Nargis set to spook with ‘Amavas’
Actress is back in Hindi cinema with a horror film starring Sachiin Joshi
Does the world need another horror film set in a haunted house? It’s undoubtedly a widely-used horror device, but actors Nargis Fakhri and Sachiin Joshi continue to keep the faith as they roll out their film, Amavas.
Directed by Bhushan Patel — whose credits include gory titles Alone and 1920: Evil Returns — their latest offering is pegged on the usual horror trope around a haunted castle, a loved-up unsuspect- ing couple who are intent on spending time at the eerie mansion and who refuse to leave even if ungodly things happen in their new home.
Amavas may be high on tropes, but is not sleaze maintains the actors.
“I believe horrors and thrillers are such powerful and interesting genres. They don’t need to rely on sleaze to make an impact. I personally love watching horror films. So being part of this film, on paper seemed very exciting when it came my way,” said Fakhri in an e-mail interview.
Her co-star Joshi claims that Amavas is as good as any other Hollywood horror flick. He plays Fakhri’s on-screen partner Karan.
“Horror is considered to be sleazy and a tainted genre in Bollywood because the audience expects a lot and they compare it to Hollywood. Unfortunately, in Hindi cinema when you make horror films they are focusing on the scares alone. They forget about the most essential element — the story. With Amavas, the perception is going to change. It has a great story and VFX that has never been seen before. It is as good as any other English film,” said Joshi in a separate interview. As Amavas gears up to thrill horror film fans, here are our excerpts from our interview with Fakhri:
Tell us about your role in Amavas.
My character’s name is Ahana and she’s a strong, lively young woman who doesn’t believe in superstition. In Amavas, she’s is dating Karan [Joshi].
You have been very choosy about your projects in Hindi cinema. Aren’t you worried about becoming less relevant?
I don’t really worry about being less relevant, I just enjoy what I do and want to make sure that I am happy with the projects I choose. People come and go in this industry and sometimes people take breaks and come back as well. As long as I am living my life true to how I believe I should, I’m satisfied.
How was it working with Sachiin Joshi and do you think a couple moving into a haunted house is the biggest cliche in Hindi films?
It was nice working with Sachiin as he’s professional. I don’t think it’s a cliche, I think all films have a formula and that’s just one of the formulas used in horror.
What are your all-time favourite horror films and why?
The Exorcist, The Conjuring, The Haunting In Connecticut, It Follows, Get Out, The Amityville Horror… There are so many favourites. I love Amavas for that same reason because I love the horror genre. It’s nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat.
It will also reward you with an otherworldly experience that can totally make your imagination run wild.
What was the most challenging part about your role?
The weather conditions during filming in London made it very challenging. We were working in miserably cold conditions, like minus degrees, and the castle was freezing on the inside. All of that made the process of shooting taxing. It took a toll on all of us.
What’s the best and worst part about acting in a horror film?
The best part was actually getting scared while working on the film. I love scaring myself. The worst part was dealing with situations that come up while working on any project that you have no control over.