Exclusive- Vikram Bhatt on reuniting with Mahesh Bhatt for Bloody Ishq, says 'I don't know how it's working without Boss'

Vikram Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt are working together in Bloody Ishq

Bollywood director Vikram Bhatt, who has given hits like 1920, Haunted, and Raaz 3D, is back with another horror, but this time a thriller horror in the form of Bloody Ishq.

Vikram is once again collaborating with ace director Mahesh Bhatt, who has written the story of Bloody Ishq. Mahesh Bhatt had also written the story of the hit film Raaz in 2002, which was directed by Vikram.

In an exclusive conversation with MoneyControl, Vikram Bhatt, who addresses Mahesh Bhatt as ‘Boss’, says he doesn’t know how it is working without Mr. Bhatt.

When asked what sets Bloody Ishq apart from the rest of the horror films he has made in the past, he says in these attention-deficit times, they have tried to make a fast-paced supernatural thriller.

Excerpts from the conversation:

What sets Bloody Ishq apart from your earlier horror films? 

“I think what sets Bloody Ishq apart is the fact that Bloody Ishq is a supernatural thriller. You know what boss and I mean. Bhatt Saab and I, what we've done, is that we've woven together, whodunit, and how done it with a horror. So, we understand, as he said very wisely, that we live in attention deficit times, and when it comes to OTT, there is a severe attention deficiency. You know, you have the remote control in your hand, and nobody wants a slow-paced, lilting horror film. So, we have twists and turns and scares, and I think that, together, is a kind of heady cocktail. That's the one that is what is so different. Apart from, of course, what Boss really does well is weave the emotional story, the story of characters and relationships. And together with that, we have this. So, I think it's a very new attempt.

How was it working with Mr. Mahesh Bhatt again?

Vikram Bhatt: Actually, you, I don't know how it is working without Mr. Bhatt. That should be a question because all my life I worked with him. So, I don't know what it is to work without him.

See, the thing is that, you know, I let me answer this question in terms of music. A lot of times we say that, oh, purane gaane ache the aaj ke nai hai, you know, it's the melody. The melody is lost to sound and rhythm, and the rap and stuff like that. But with him and me, you know, he is the melody, and I am the arrangement. And that's why we work so well together.

When will you return with a comedy?

Vikram Bhatt: I made a film called Awara Pagal Deewana and Deewane Huye Pagal. And now I'm going to make a film very soon called Hindi Picture.

Because it is about a Hindi picture. And I have to still narrate to the boss, so I can't narrate to you right now. But I have a feeling that he might just be the picture being filmed around me. Yeah.

Which is what I have a feeling that I might be thrown out of his cabin for the nonsense I'm going to talk. But I don't need to talk to him much, so he's going to enjoy it. Let's just say that I'm dying to make a comedy.

How was it directing young talents like Avika Gor and Vardhaan Puri?

Vikram Bhatt: Kya kahu useless hai dono, actually Avika aur Vardhaan jo hai, Avika; she worked with us in 1920. (He laughs.) She just hit it out of the park in 1920, in a big way. And I can say proudly that she's done it again. So, 2 films, 2 centuries—not an easy one. Don't think bloody Ishq is possible without Avika.

But I can also say that it's not possible without Vardhaan. Because, you know, Vardhaan has the honesty and sincerity of being in a scene that is not even his sometimes. And I think that is a very generous actor. And you find very few actors who are so generous. You know, everybody wants their bit in a scene, and they don't see a film.

But Vardhaan is a team player. Apart from being a very good actor, apart from being a very underestimated actor, let me tell you, at this point in time. But come tomorrow, things will change.

How were Avika and Vardhaan on the sets?

All they did was sit behind me on the set and do khus phus. What do you do? How many times do you do it? What are you eating? What are you going to do? Why don't you take this diet? Why didn't you do this? Ki yar inlog ko mai kaise chup karaun?

Bloody Ishq featuring Vardhaan Puri and Avika Gor was released on Hotstar this Friday. The movie has received mixed reviews.

Vikram Bhatt has given many hit films as director and producer in the past. He is known more for the horror genre with hits like 1920: Evil Returns, Khamoshiyan, Kasoor, Raaz to name a few.