EXCLUSIVE: Vikram Bhatt reveals why Haunted – Ghosts Of The Past was renamed as Haunted – Echoes Of The Past: “You can’t make a ghost film without believing in superstition”
Vikram Bhatt, the director behind the 2011 Bollywood horror hit Haunted 3D, has opened up about the title change for its upcoming sequel, now titled Haunted – Echoes Of The Past. The film, which stars Mimoh Chakraborty reprising his role from the original, is set for release on June 12, 2026. Bhatt confirmed in an exclusive conversation that the shift from “Ghosts” to “Echoes” in the title came after a personal suggestion from a close friend during a period of professional delay and personal difficulty.
The director shared that the film’s production faced multiple setbacks, including delays and his own incarceration, which prompted his friend to question whether the word “Ghost” in the title was contributing to negative energy. Bhatt recalled his friend saying, “Title mein se Ghost ko hata do,” to which he responded, “Theek hai. Hata dete hai.” This led to the adoption of “Echoes Of The Past” as the new subtitle. Bhatt added with a laugh, “I never believed in such things until now. Also, you can’t make a ghost film without believing in superstition.”
The upcoming film continues the story of the Haunted franchise, which began with Haunted 3D in 2011—a movie noted for helping popularize stereoscopic 3D filmmaking in Indian cinema at the time. Whereas Haunted 3D was praised for its technical ambition and became a sleeper box office success, details about its exact earnings or critical reception are not available in the verified sources consulted for this report.
For the sequel, Bhatt confirmed that Mimoh Chakraborty returns in the lead role, joined by Chetna Pande, Shruti Prakash, Gaurav Bajpai, Praneet Bhatt, and Hemant Pandey. The film is produced by Anand Pandit and Rakesh Juneja under the banner of Anand Pandit Motion Pictures, which will also handle worldwide distribution. These production and casting details were stated directly by Bhatt in his interview and have not been independently verified through additional authoritative sources such as studio press releases or film registry records.
Addressing audience concerns about the motion poster released to announce the release date, Bhatt clarified that while the poster utilized standard motion graphic techniques common in contemporary film promotion, there is no artificial intelligence used in the actual film itself. He stated, “This is how motion posters are designed. But I can assure you that there’s absolutely no AI in the film at all.” No further technical breakdown of the poster’s creation was provided in the verified sources.
Regarding promotional material, Bhatt indicated that the teaser for Haunted – Echoes Of The Past is expected to be released within the current month—April 2026—though no specific date or platform has been confirmed through official channels such as the producers’ social media accounts or press releases.
The Haunted franchise remains a notable entry in Bollywood’s horror genre, particularly for its early adoption of 3D technology. While subsequent Indian horror films have explored similar formats, Haunted 3D is often cited in industry discussions as a pioneer in bringing immersive 3D experiences to mainstream Hindi cinema during the early 2010s.
As of now, no official trailer, teaser, or behind-the-scenes content for Haunted – Echoes Of The Past has been released through verified studio channels. Fans awaiting further updates are advised to monitor the official social media handles of Anand Pandit Motion Pictures or Vikram Bhatt’s verified accounts for authentic announcements.
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