Uttar Pradesh -based writer and actor-turned-director Rajan Ramgopal Verma, known for his work in Gujarati cinema, recently made his Hindi film debut with OTT feature film Jhaad Phoonk , which he shot entirely in Uttarakhand .
He says the film is inspired by his childhood and the growing-up years he spent in his hometown, Aligarh .
Initially, I was reluctant but then decided to go ahead, and Jessu Joordaar (2021) became a blockbuster. “I wanted to make a horror film but not just with a ghost and some supernatural things happening around. I want to play around fear. The fact is that horror as a subject is the hero of the film if it is well made and gives the right message. Some may ask, when I don’t believe in superstition, why do I have a ghost in the film? So, my reply is: In the Ramayana, to give a message of good over evil, there has to be Lord Ram and Ravana. I am not questioning the supernatural forces but highlighting the things that happen around it! The film stars Yashpal Sharma , Padmini Kolhapure, Sumbul Touqeer Khan , Harsh Rajput and Apratim Singh in prominent roles. Interestingly, he has made four Gujarati films, and one is on the floors. “I was in ad film making, and when I decided to get into direction, I wrote the script with Bunty Rathod. I got a producer, but he wanted to make it in Gujarati. Now, I am very comfortable with Gujarati. My film Ghanghoor is also complete.”
