Sunil Kumar From Small-Town Dreams to Bollywood’s Backstage Hero
Sunil Kumar is journey to becoming one of Bollywood’s most sought-after technicians began in the quiet lanes of Jaipur, where he would skip school to watch film crews shoot at the city’s historic locations. His fascination with cameras started at age 12 when he borrowed his uncle’s broken VHS camcorder and taught himself to repair it. Few know that before entering films, Kumar worked as a wedding videographer, where he developed his signature use of natural lighting—a technique that later became his trademark in horror films like Stree 2. His big break came unexpectedly when cinematographer Ravi Varman noticed his guerrilla-style documentary on Rajasthan’s haunted havelis and recommended him for an assistant role in Bombay Velvet (2015).
The Grueling Ascent in Bollywood’s Technical Crews of Sunil Kumar
For three years, Kumar worked in obscurity as a clapper loader and focus puller on big-budget sets, often sleeping in Mumbai’s editing studios to save rent. His perseverance paid off when he designed the eerie “shadow chase” sequence in Tumbbad (2018) using just candlelight and mirrors—a scene that went viral among cinematography circles. This led to his first major assignment as Director of Photography for the horror anthology Ghost Stories (2020), where he famously used expired 35mm film stock to create the grainy texture of the “Vana” segment. Industry veterans still discuss how he achieved the film’s ghostly silhouettes by retrofitting 1940s German lens filters to modern cameras.
Redefining Horror Aesthetics in Stree 2
When director Amar Kaushik brought Kumar onboard Stree 2, the cinematographer insisted on shooting in real Chanderi havelis instead of sets, despite the logistical nightmare. His most innovative contribution was the “invisible witch POV” shots—created by mounting cameras on custom drone rigs flying at knee-height to simulate supernatural movement. The film’s viral “chudail reflection” scene (where Stree appears in a mirror but not in reality) was Kumar’s brainchild, achieved using a 19th-century stage magic technique involving angled glass and black velvet. Few know he tested this effect for six months, even consulting NASA engineers about light refraction.
The Secret Method Behind Stree 2’s Terrifying Soundscape of Sunil Kumar
Beyond cinematography, Kumar co-designed the film’s soundscape by recording actual paranormal investigators’ equipment. He traveled to Bhangarh Fort at midnight with hydrophones to capture infrasound frequencies believed to cause unease in humans. The movie’s iconic “stitch-ripping” sound effect was created by slowing down recordings of his grandmother tearing cloth for quilts—a personal tribute after her passing during production. These details earned Stree 2 a rare Indian horror nomination for Best Sound Design at the 2024 Filmfare Awards.
Personal Struggles and a Near-Fatal Accident
During the film’s climax shoot in Maheshwar, Kumar suffered a 25-foot fall while adjusting a crane shot, fracturing his spine. He continued supervising from a wheelchair, using VR headsets to frame shots. In interviews, he credits this accident for inspiring the movie’s wheelchair-bound seer character—a last-minute addition that became a fan favorite. The physical toll extended to his personal life; his fiancée left him weeks before their wedding due to his obsessive work schedule, a sacrifice he later called “the price of the perfect shot.”
Breaking Stereotypes About Horror Technicians
Kumar actively mentors young female cinematographers through his “Dark Frame Initiative,” challenging Bollywood’s bias that men handle horror better. His protégée Priyanka Ghosh became India’s first woman to shoot a major horror film (The House Next Door 2). He also revolutionized horror lighting by proving that amber LEDs (traditionally avoided for making actors look “too warm”) could create unease when paired with specific shadow angles—now an industry standard.
The Unreleased Documentary That Almost Ended His Career
In 2022, Kumar secretly filmed Shadows of the Forgotten, a documentary exposing poor working conditions for Bollywood’s junior technicians. When producers discovered his footage included underage workers on horror sets, they threatened blacklisting until Anurag Kashyap intervened. The shelved project later inspired new child labor guidelines for the Indian Film Federation.
Future Projects and Legacy
Currently prepping Stree 3 and an international collaboration with The Conjuring universe, Kumar’s next goal is to shoot a horror sequence in zero gravity—a challenge requiring ISS-approved equipment. Despite his rising fame, he still personally operates cameras for indie projects, stating, “Real horror lives in the edges of the frame, not in CGI.” His life’s work proves that behind every scream-worthy moment lies an artist who bleeds for the perfect shot.
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