Dharma Productions is gearing up to enter a space the banner has only occasionally touched, and its next move is a full fledged horror film headlined by a young pairing. Dharma Productions is backing a new project led by Laapataa Ladies breakout Nitanshi Goel and Miss World India Sini Shetty. With the Karan Johar led banner known for glossy romances, star led dramas and large scale theatrical entertainers, the horror pivot is being positioned as a deliberate genre expansion.
According to information from sources close to the production, the film is slated to begin shooting this month, with the makers locking a tight, controlled schedule. The creative intent, as shared by those in the know, is to mount a contained, atmosphere driven horror story that leans on mood, performance and escalating tension rather than only spectacle.
Nitanshi Goel and Sini Shetty headline Dharma Productions horror film
Nitanshi Goel is set to lead the project after her widely discussed performance in Laapataa Ladies. The Dharma backed film marks a notable shift for the actor, moving from a grounded, slice of life world to a darker genre where sustained emotional beats are often as crucial as scares.
Sini Shetty will star alongside Goel, making this one of her biggest studio led acting assignments so far. The project is being mounted as a performance oriented horror film, and her role is expected to be central to the narrative’s emotional core and psychological tension.
Ashish R Shukla to direct after Undekhi and Candy
Dharma has roped in Ashish R Shukla to helm the film. Shukla is known for his work on the series Undekhi and Candy, both of which relied on taut plotting, mounting pressure and a moody visual language. Those strengths translate naturally to horror, especially when the design is to build dread through pacing, sound and character dynamics.
The director’s involvement also hints that the film could blend horror with a strong thriller engine, an approach that has delivered results for several recent Hindi genre titles across theatres and streaming.
Shoot to roll this month with a 35 day schedule
The film is set to go on floors this month, and the production plan includes a compact 35 day shoot in Uttarakhand. A tight schedule typically signals controlled locations and a focused storyline, which aligns with the project’s described contained horror format.
With Dharma Productions expanding its genre palette and pairing two young leads in a horror narrative, the film is expected to be closely tracked for what it signals about the studio’s mid budget theatrical strategy going forward.
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