Vikram Bhatt‘s next film is inspired by a newspaper article in the UK. Vikram has just returned from the UK having completed his film, ‘Ghost’, which is inspired by a newspaper article about how a British court allowed a matter involving spirits to be tried.
“The article caught my eye because it threw up an interesting question: How does one prove the presence of spirits in a court of law? I know it’s hard for most people to believe in the supernatural world, but I know from first-hand experience that the realm exists and for me, it is a reality,” said the filmmaker who helmed the ‘Raaz’ franchise, besides a string of horror films like ‘1920’ and ‘1921’, ‘Shaapit’, ‘Haunted 3D’, and, ‘Creature 3D’.
When asked questions on what makes ‘Ghost’ different from other ghosts stories given the current emphasis on unique content, Vikram smiled and said, “The concept itself is novel. Karan Khanna, a politician of Indian origin in the UK, is accused of killing his wife. He tells his lawyer that a spirit committed the murder and should be tried. Where have you seen that before?”
Vikram adds that while most of his earlier films were set in abandoned places, ‘Ghost’ is filmed in the heart of London, amidst apartments, houses, and offices. “I doubt they’re haunted and if they are, no one is talking about it. Also, unlike the lyrical love stories of the past, this one takes the characters with their weaknesses and makes them meet the ghost outside while emotional ghosts plague their hearts and minds,” said the filmmaker.
The film will introduce a new pair, Sanaya Irani as a defense lawyer Simran Singh and Shivam Bhargav as Karan Khanna. “Sanaya has an emotional quotient that works well in a complex role while Shivam’s shyness adds a layer to the victimized Karan, But it’s possible if you listen to your audience. They are vocal about what they want to see and what they don’t. To believe that you are relevant when you are not is a dangerous thing,” explains Vikram who had dabbled in this genre many times before.
When asked, what takes him back to horror, again and again? “Fear I live with fear and understand fear in a way that many don’t,” he concludes.