Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has spent over three decades building a reputation as one of Bollywood’s most prolific creators in the thriller and horror space. From films like ‘Fareb’, ‘Ghulam’, ‘Kasoor’, ‘Raaz’, ‘Awara Paagal Deewana’, ‘1920’ and ‘Haunted 3D’, Bhatt has repeatedly returned to stories that explore fear, mystery and the supernatural. With the latest installment of the franchise, ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’, performing well at the box office, the director is once again celebrating a successful run.Looking back at his journey, Bhatt opened up with Firstpost about overcoming personal setbacks, the enduring appeal of horror films and why a recent Hollywood blockbuster instantly reminded him of one of his biggest hits.
Why ‘Obsession’ brought back memories of ‘Raaz’
Although Vikram Bhatt admits he has not watched the Hollywood horror sensation ‘Obsession’ in its entirety, the storyline was enough to trigger a sense of familiarity.“I haven’t seen Obsession but someone was telling me the story and I sat back and laughed and thought this is ‘Raaz’. It’s basically Malini of ‘Raaz’ in the whole film.” The filmmaker believes the genre continues to thrive because audiences remain drawn to compelling horror stories regardless of geography or language. “My take is that if you make a good horror film, people are going to come. This one was really good.”
Vikram Bhatt’s success after a difficult phase
The strong theatrical response to ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’ comes after what Bhatt describes as a challenging period in his personal life. Asked whether the film’s success felt particularly rewarding, the filmmaker responded with his trademark humour.“Your question feels more like does the story end well. I had a series of misfortunes. And it’s a bit of a reward that God has given me for all my pains and for all my trials and tribulations.” He added, “I think he still wants people to suffer. So he said ‘Let’s not get rid of him so fast.’”Before the film’s release, several industry observers were sceptical about its prospects. According to Bhatt, factors such as the absence of major stars, online trolling and legal complications led many to underestimate the film.However, he remained confident because of the relationship he believes he has built with horror audiences over the years. “So the confidence I have is with my audience. I have a relationship with my audience. I know my audience.”Bhatt acknowledged that many trade experts viewed the project as a risky proposition. “It was obvious they would think ‘Haunted’ would be the last choice. Because, you know, I didn’t have stars. It was horror and it was already being trolled. And then there was a NCLT case.”Despite the challenges, he never doubted that the film would find its audience. “I had faith that the film might not appeal to the critics. It will appeal to my audience.”
Why horror doesn’t depend on superstars
Having directed numerous horror films, Bhatt believes the genre operates differently from mainstream commercial cinema. In his view, audiences come to experience fear rather than watch larger-than-life heroes.“When you have big actors, you cannot possibly have them getting scared and running around.” The director explained that established stars often carry a screen image that can dilute the realism required for horror. “If you have an A plus hero, who already has a larger than life persona, like an Allu Arjun or a Ram Charan, it’s not going to work.”For Vikram Bhatt, the central attraction of a horror film is not the cast but the experience itself. “People come to feel the sensation of fear. They don’t come for any actor.”Today, with ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’ adding another success to his filmography, Vikram Bhatt remains one of the few filmmakers in Hindi cinema whose association with the horror genre continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
