Nawazuddin Siddiqui's exam cheating story: the invigilator who slept with eyes open
Synopsis
Nawazuddin Siddiqui's exam-cheating story on The Kapil Sharma Show had a punchline nobody saw coming — the invigilator sleeps with his eyes open. The actor also confirmed he is shooting Tumbbad 2 through festival holidays, with the sequel set for a 3 December 2027 release.
Key Takeaways
Nawazuddin Siddiqui appeared on The Kapil Sharma Show and shared a student-days cheating anecdote.
He and classmates waited three hours for their invigilator to fall asleep — only to learn he sleeps with his eyes open.
Nawazuddin said he cheated frequently during school but was never caught.
He is currently shooting Tumbbad 2 , including through festival holidays such as Eid.
Tumbbad 2 is directed by Adesh Prasad and produced by Sohum Shah under Sohum Shah Films with Pen Studios .
The sequel releases on 3 December 2027 , continuing the story of the original 2018 cult classic.
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui recently shared a laugh-out-loud anecdote from his student days on The Kapil Sharma Show, recounting a failed attempt at exam cheating that ended with a twist nobody in his class had anticipated.
The Setup That Backfired
Nawazuddin and his classmates had been tipped off that their examination invigilator had a habit of dozing off during tests — prime conditions, they thought, for pulling out cheat sheets. The group waited patiently, cheat sheets at the ready, but three hours passed without the invigilator so much as nodding off.
The exam, predictably, did not go well. When the students confronted the person who had given them the tip, the explanation left them speechless: the invigilator, they were told, sleeps with his eyes open. Nawazuddin delivered the punchline to host Kapil Sharma with characteristic deadpan timing, drawing laughter from the audience.
He also added that despite his many attempts at cheating during his school years, he was never once caught — a revelation that only added to the comic effect of the story.
Tumbbad 2 in the Works
Beyond the laughs, Nawazuddin used the appearance to speak about his upcoming professional commitment: the sequel to the critically acclaimed horror film Tumbbad. He confirmed he is actively shooting for Tumbbad 2, with work continuing even through festival holidays.
'It is going to be a working festival for me. Even on Eid, I am shooting for Tumbbad 2. I am very excited about bringing this character to life as it has multiple layers,' he said.
About Tumbbad and Its Sequel
The original Tumbbad, released in 2018, was directed by Rahi Anil Barve and Anand Gandhi and starred Sohum Shah as the lead character Vinayak Rao. The film, set in the Maharashtra village of Tumbbad, followed a man's obsessive hunt for a hidden 20th-century treasure and went on to develop a devoted cult following.
The sequel, Tumbbad 2, is helmed by Adesh Prasad and produced by Sohum Shah under his banner Sohum Shah Films, in association with Pen Studios. The makers announced the release date on social media, writing: 'A sinful past, an ominous future. The hunger rises, the legacy of greed continues… Mark your calendars #Tumbbad2 arrives on 3. 12. 2027.'
Release Date
Tumbbad 2 is slated to release on 3 December 2027, giving fans of the franchise a long-anticipated return to the world of greed and folklore that made the original a landmark in Indian genre cinema.
Point of View
But it does two things at once: it humanises Nawazuddin — an actor whose intensity on screen can feel almost mythic — and quietly plants the Tumbbad 2 release date in the public conversation well ahead of the marketing cycle. The original Tumbbad is one of the rare Indian genre films that aged into a genuine cult, which means the sequel carries unusually high audience expectation. Whether Adesh Prasad can replicate the atmospheric dread that Rahi Anil Barve built is the real question the industry will be watching — and a chat-show anecdote, however charming, does not answer it.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Nawazuddin Siddiqui say on The Kapil Sharma Show?
Nawazuddin Siddiqui shared a humorous story about attempting to cheat during a school exam, only to discover that their invigilator sleeps with his eyes open. He also revealed he is currently shooting Tumbbad 2 and discussed the film's upcoming release.
When does Tumbbad 2 release?
Tumbbad 2 is scheduled to release on 3 December 2027. The makers announced the date on social media with the message: 'A sinful past, an ominous future. The hunger rises, the legacy of greed continues.'
Who is directing Tumbbad 2?
Tumbbad 2 is directed by Adesh Prasad. The film is produced by Sohum Shah under Sohum Shah Films in association with Pen Studios.
What was the original Tumbbad about?
Released in 2018 and directed by Rahi Anil Barve and Anand Gandhi, Tumbbad starred Sohum Shah as Vinayak Rao and followed a man's obsessive search for a hidden 20th-century treasure in the Maharashtra village of Tumbbad. It became a cult classic in Indian genre cinema.
Is Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Tumbbad 2?
Yes, Nawazuddin Siddiqui confirmed he is actively shooting for Tumbbad 2. He described the character as having 'multiple layers' and said he was shooting through festival holidays, including Eid.
