A film producer Vikram Bhatt has spent more than three decades making a name for himself as one of the leading producers in Bollywood and the horror scene. 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’, doing well at the box office, the director is also celebrating a successful run.Looking back on his journey, Bhatt spoke to Firstpost about overcoming his obstacles, the constant appeal of horror films and why the latest Hollywood blockbuster instantly reminded him of one of his biggest thrills.
Why ‘Obsession’ brought back memories of ‘Raaz’
Although Vikram Bhatt admits that he hasn’t watched all of the Hollywood horror films ‘Obsession’, the story was enough to spark awareness.“I have never seen Obsession but someone told me the story and I sat down and laughed thinking that this is ‘Raaz’. It is actually Malini’s ‘Raaz’ in the whole film.” The filmmaker believes that the genre continues to thrive because audiences are drawn to horror stories regardless of location or language. “My point is that if you make a good horror movie, people will come. This one was really good.”
Vikram Bhatt’s performance after a difficult episode
The audience’s strong response to ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’ comes after what Bhatt describes as a difficult period in his life. When asked if the success of the film was very rewarding, the filmmaker replied with his own sense of humour.“Your question seems as if the story ends well. I met with several misfortunes. And it is a small reward that God has given me for all my pains and all my trials and tribulations.” He also said: “I think they still want people to suffer.”Before the film’s release, many people in the industry were skeptical that the film would actually happen. According to Bhatt, factors such as the lack of big stars, internet trolling and legal issues kept many people from watching the film.However, he remains confident because of the relationships he believes he has built with dangerous people over the years. “So the trust I have is with my audience. I have a relationship with my audience. I know my audience.”Bhatt acknowledged that many business professionals see the project as a risky proposition. “It was obvious that they thought that ‘Haunted’ would be the last choice. Because, you know, I didn’t have a star. It was scary and it was already shaking. And then there was the NCLT case.”Despite the difficulties, he had no doubt that the film would find its audience. “I was confident that the film would not please the critics. It will please my audience.”
Why the horrors do not depend on the stars
Having directed many horror films, Bhatt believes that the genre works differently from conventional horror films. In his opinion, the audience comes in fear rather than seeing larger-than-life heroes.“When you have big actors, you can’t just panic and run away.” The director explained that fixed stars often have a computerized image that can reduce the realism required for risks. “If you have an A-plus hero, who has a larger-than-life character, like Allu Arjun or Ram Charan, it won’t work.”For Vikram Bhatt, the central attraction of a horror film is not the acting but the action itself. “People come for fear. They don’t come for any actor.”Today, with ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’ adding yet another success to his filmography, Vikram Bhatt remains one of the few filmmakers in Hindi cinema whose association with the horror genre continues to delight audiences across generations.