Horror fare

1920 is a love story with a supernatural conflict.

After the unexpected success of Ram Gopal Varma's Phoonk, here is another horror offering from Bollywood called 1920.

Directed by Vikram Bhatt, 1920 is a period horror flick. Bhatt reached the pinnacle of his career with the horror smash hit Raaz in 2002, but could not follow its success. The only way to perhaps redeem his fading career is to once again tackle the genre.

Ghost connection

If Raaz was a straight lift from the Hollywood film What Lies Beneath, what movie inspired 1920? "The problem is with the media. Once they tag you with something, you are stuck with it. I agree that some of my initial films have been inspired by Hollywood, but you can't help if you have mediocre talent at your disposal and they are paid measly amounts for scripts. In recent times I have concentrated on writing my own scripts, but that is not possible all the time," says Bhatt.

According to Bhatt, 1920 is a very different horror film set in 1920, as the title shows. "I would think it is more of a love story with a supernatural conflict and has an excellent mix of exotic period and fear surrounding this tale," says the director.

Sometimes to make a good film it is important to be convinced of the film's subject. So does Bhatt believe in supernatural elements and ghosts to come up with this story? He says, "I do believe in spirits because I had my own experiences. It is not that I was haunted by any ghost, but I have an eerie feeling and can sense their presence sometimes. I believe it is very difficult to recreate such a frightening atmosphere in a horror film."

New lead pair

With 1920, Bhatt introduces a new lead pair in Rajneesh Duggal and Adah Sharma. A former Grasim Mr. India, Duggal is no stranger to the glamour world. In 1920, he plays Arjun Singh Rathod, an architect intensely in love with his wife.

Sharma, on the other hand, has just begun her modelling career and won the lead heroine's role without any hassles or auditions. "I play Lisa, an Anglo-Indian girl who falls in love with a Hindu boy much against their parents' wishes. Their love is tested when they land up in a haunted house," she says.

During the film's trial show, Sharma says she felt a chill run down her spine when she saw a few of the terrifying scenes in which she is possessed by a spirit.

That seems like a good sign, but let's hope the audience too quake in their seats when they see the film.