No major stars, no hype: Why Anand Pandit knew Haunted 3D Echoes of the Past would be a hit

June 12 was a rather crowded Friday at the movies. There was Imtiaz Ali making his big-screen comeback with the partition era romance Main Vaapas Aaunga, Kangana Ranaut-led Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, and on the Hollywood front, Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day alongside the highly anticipated Backrooms. To top it all, Hollywood horror sensation Obsession was already running to packed theatres. But what happened that Friday was something few could have imagined. Out of all these big-ticket releases, it was Vikram Bhatt’s Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past, produced by Anand Pandit, that emerged victorious at the box office.Few had predicted that the film would draw audiences to theatres. With no major star backing (the movie starred Mimoh Chakraborty and Chetna Pande), nor impressive promotional assets, it nevertheless managed to put up decent numbers. However, producer Anand Pandit tells SCREEN that he was always confident the film would strike a chord with audiences. “My expectation was always that people will love this movie. And the reason behind that is Vikram is a very good storyteller. And this is his zone. He is not moving out of his zone. So I was very confident that people will like it. And especially since some time, if you see, genre of horror is becoming very popular, and it has got its own special niche audience.”When asked what it is about the horror genre that is drawing audiences more than ever before, Pandit argues that horror has never really gone out of fashion. According to him, the genre has historically enjoyed a loyal audience, and success depends less on trends than on telling the right story with effective execution. “If you see, right from Mahal (1949), Bees Saal Baad and Woh Kaun Thi?, all were superhit films. So, since then, the genre has had its own following. In the ’70s and ’80s, the Ramsay Brothers were the big thing. Then, in the early 2000s, you had Bhoot, Raaz and 1920. More recently, Stree, Tumbbad, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Munjya have all been successful movies. So I would say that there has always been a particular appetite for the horror genre among our viewers.” Vikram Bhatt directed Haunted 2. (Photo: Vikram Bhatt/Instagram)‘Without, Vikram, the film will not release’ Anand Pandit also believes horror is one of the few genres where compelling storytelling can outweigh the draw of marquee names. “If you’re able to get the storytelling and your screenplay right, with everything falling into place, I think star value only adds to it, but success is then imminent. And especially with horror, people come for the experience rather than star power.” Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’s success marked a welcome turnaround for both Pandit and Vikram Bhatt, particularly after the latter endured a turbulent few months marked by imprisonment and an ongoing legal battle. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the release, Pandit says he never considered moving ahead without Bhatt by his side. “When Vikram was having a hard time in Rajasthan, he sent a message to me through his daughter saying that I could release the film. But I said, ‘Without, Vikram, the film will not release.’ I had the conviction that it’s his baby, and he should be present for it. And yes, even up to the last day, we had a roller-coaster ride. But I’m very happy that we were able to release it, and that people loved the film.” What has also been particularly interesting is the trajectory of Main Vaapas Aaunga, which released alongside Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past. While the film opened to a subdued response, it has gradually transformed into a sleeper hit, with its box office collections growing steadily on the back of strong word of mouth.Story continues below this ad Asked about the phenomenon, Anand Pandit acknowledged that audience recommendations remain one of the most powerful forces at the box office. “See, word of mouth is a big phenomenon. If you get that, there is nothing like it. In regional cinema, it is a different story because t