film producer Vikram Bhatt For over three decades, he has been hailed as one of the most prolific creators of thrillers and horror films in Bollywood. Bhatt has returned many times to explore stories of fear, mystery and the supernatural in films like Fareb, Ghulam, Kasoor, Raaz, Awara Paagal Deewana, 1920 and Haunted 3D. With the latest film in the series, Poltergeist 3D: Echoes of the Past, performing well at the box office, the director is once again celebrating its success.Looking back on his journey, Bart talks to Firstpost about overcoming personal setbacks, the enduring appeal of horror movies and why the latest Hollywood blockbuster instantly reminds him of one of his biggest hits.
Why “Obsession” reminds me of “Raaz”
Although Vikram Bhatt admits that he hasn’t watched the Hollywood blockbuster horror film “Obsession” in its entirety, the storyline is enough to induce a sense of familiarity.“I haven’t seen ‘Obsession’ yet, but someone told me the story and I sat back and laughed, thinking it was ‘Raz’. Malini was basically ‘Raz’ throughout the movie.” The filmmaker believes the genre will continue to thrive because audiences will still be drawn to compelling horror stories regardless of geography or language. “The way I see it is, if you make a good horror movie, people will come. This one is really good.”
Vikram Bhatt’s success after going through difficult phases
Before “Poltergeist 3D: Echoes of the Past” received a strong response in theaters, Bhatt said he was going through a challenging period in his personal life. When asked if the film’s success felt particularly meaningful to him, the filmmaker responded with his signature humor.“Your question feels more like a good ending to the story. I’ve been through a series of misfortunes. This is God’s little reward for all my pain and all my trials and tribulations.” He added, “I think He still wants people to suffer. So He says ‘Let’s not get rid of Him so quickly.'”Ahead of the film’s release, some industry observers expressed doubts about its prospects. Butt said factors such as the absence of major stars, online trolling and legal complications led many to underestimate the film.However, he remains confident because of the relationships he has built with horror audiences over the years. “So my confidence comes from my audience. I have a relationship with my audience. I know my audience.”Butt acknowledged that many trade experts viewed the project as a risky proposition. “Obviously they would have considered Poltergeist to be the last resort. Because, you know, I don’t have a star. It’s scary and it’s been parodied. And then there’s the NCLT case.”Despite the challenges, he never doubted the film would find an audience. “I believe this movie may not appeal to critics. It will appeal to my audience.”
Why horror doesn’t depend on superstars
Butt, who has directed several horror films, believes that horror films work differently from mainstream commercial films. In his view, audiences are there to experience fear, not to watch larger-than-life heroes.“When you have big actors, you can’t make them feel scared and run around.” The director explained that the screen presence of famous stars often dilutes the realism required for horror. “If you have an A+ hero who already has a larger-than-life persona like Allu Arjun or Ram Charan, then that doesn’t work.”For Vikram Bhatt, the core appeal of a horror movie is not the cast, but the experience itself. “People are starting to feel a sense of fear. They’re not coming for any of the actors.”Now, with Poltergeist 3D: Echoes of the Past adding yet another success to his filmography, Vikram Bhatt remains one of the few filmmakers in Hindi cinema whose connection with the horror genre continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
