Vikram Bhatt says Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D survived financial crisis, legal hurdles and delayed release; recalls 75 days in prison: “Ten days into the shoot, money ran out”
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has opened up about the difficult journey behind Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D, days after the horror film emerged as one of the stronger-performing Hindi releases of the second week of June 2026. Reacting to the film's reception, Vikram Bhatt shared a heartfelt note on Instagram. Posting an image carrying the words "From hunted to haunted," the filmmaker detailed the challenges that nearly prevented the film from seeing the light of day.
“Two and a half years ago, Haunted: Echoes of the Past began as just another film. Born of the success of 1920: Horrors of the Heart, and like every new film, it was built on hope, excitement, and the belief that the road ahead would be easier,” he wrote.
According to Bhatt, the production ran into financial trouble almost immediately. “Ten days into the shoot, money ran out. Most films would have died here. Not this one,” he said.
The filmmaker revealed that the team borrowed money, negotiated with vendors and continued filming despite mounting challenges. He explained that production, post-production and visual effects hurdles followed one after another, making the journey even more difficult.
Bhatt also spoke about a deeply personal chapter that interrupted the film's progress. “My wife and I were arrested on allegations that I maintain were false. I spent 75 days in prison while Haunted sat unfinished,” he wrote.
During that period, he even suggested releasing the film without him. However, producer Anand Pandit refused to move forward without the filmmaker. “The answer that came back from Mr. Anand Pandit has stayed with me ever since. ‘No Vikram Bhatt, no film release,’” he recalled.
After returning to Mumbai, Bhatt said he discovered that post-production work had stalled. He and his team then worked long hours to complete the film. The challenges did not end there. Just days before release, a legal dispute threatened to stop the film from reaching theatres.
“Two days before release, nobody knew whether Haunted would actually make it into theatres,” he shared.
Eventually, the film received clearance for release. Despite limited showcasing due to the uncertainty surrounding the court proceedings, Bhatt said audiences ultimately embraced the film. “By every conventional yardstick, it should have struggled. Instead, something extraordinary happened. The audience arrived,” he wrote.
Concluding his note, the filmmaker said the biggest victory was simply getting the film in front of viewers. “In the end, all I wanted was for the world to meet Haunted. And when it finally did, that was enough. That was everything.”
The film arrived in theatres alongside Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga and Kangana Ranaut's Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata. While all three films faced competition from the continuing success of the Hollywood release Obsession, Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D managed to attract more footfalls than the other two Bollywood releases.
Also Read: “Few filmmakers showcase ‘fear’ and horror like Vikram Bhatt,” says producer Anand Pandit ahead of the release of Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past
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