Who is Baby Sushma? All about Shiva child actor Ram Gopal Varma apologised to after 36 years

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New Delhi: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has publicly apologised to the child artist who featured in his 1989 cult classic Shiva, days ahead of the film’s grand 4K re-release on November 14. The film, starring Nagarjuna, remains one of the most influential action dramas in Indian cinema and is celebrated for its raw intensity and visual style.

In a series of posts shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ram Gopal Varma revealed the identity of the young girl from the film’s iconic cycle chase scene. The child actor, Baby Sushma, is now known as Sushma Anand Akoju and currently works in the United States, pursuing research in AI and Cognitive Science.

Ram Gopal Varma apologises to ‘Shiva’ child artist

Sharing a recent picture of her, RGV wrote, “This is the grown up girl Sushma from the iconic cycle chase scene in Shiva where she is sitting scared on the bar with @Iamnagarjuna cycling in tension. @symbolicsushi is now doing research in AI and Cognitive Science in the USA.”

The filmmaker went on to offer a heartfelt apology, acknowledging the risks involved in the sequence. “Hey @symbolicsushi please accept my sincere apologies after 36 years for subjecting you to such a traumatic experience which I dint realise at that time. The directorial greed in me took over in being blinded to subjecting a little girl like you to such risky shots. I apologise once again,” he wrote.

Sushma reacts to RGV’s apology

Responding to his message, Sushma expressed her gratitude and fondly recalled her time on set. “Thank you, sir! Honoured to be remembered as part of Shiva’s legacy. That experience as a child was unforgettable, and I’m grateful to have contributed to such an iconic film,” she replied. In another post, she added, “Being part of Shiva is a cherished memory. That cycle chase adventure influenced me and prepared me for later intellectual endeavours and adventures. I felt safe and excited to be part of something magical. Shiva remains a souvenir.”

Who is Baby Sushma?

Baby Sushma, who appeared as the child artist in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1989 cult film Shiva, is now known as Dr Sushma Anand Akoju. She is a distinguished researcher in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science. Currently pursuing her PhD in Computer Science at the University of New Hampshire, she holds three master’s degrees: in Information Science, Data Science, and Forensic Science & Criminal Justice. Her research explores Natural Language Understanding, Neurosymbolic AI, and Logic-based reasoning systems. Sushma is also a published author, educator, and advocate for ethical communication, combining neuroscience, AI, and linguistics to study how humans and machines understand language.

The iconic bicycle chase from Shiva remains one of Indian cinema’s most admired action sequences. However, the scene also serves as a reminder of an era when on-set safety protocols were far less stringent than today.

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Shiva re-release date

Shiva, which starred Nagarjuna, Amala, and Raghuvaran, is set to return to cinemas in a restored 4K format on November 14. A special screening was recently organised in Hyderabad, attended by Ram Gopal Varma and Nagarjuna, to celebrate the film’s enduring legacy.