Overview
Raaz is an Indian Hindi-language horror film franchise produced by Vishesh Films, the production banner founded by Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt. The series began in 2002 with Raaz, directed by Vikram Bhatt, and went on to become one of the most commercially successful horror franchises in Hindi cinema. Each instalment is a standalone story built around supernatural themes, possession, and revenge from beyond the grave, rather than a continuing narrative.
Key facts
| Franchise | Raaz |
|---|---|
| Genre | Supernatural horror, thriller |
| Language | Hindi |
| Production company | Vishesh Films |
| Producers | Mukesh Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt |
| First film | Raaz (2002) |
| Number of films | Four |
| Principal director | Vikram Bhatt (films 1, 2 and 3) |
Background
Vishesh Films, established in 1987 by the Bhatt brothers, had built its reputation on small-to-mid budget thrillers and romantic dramas. The horror genre had been largely dominated in Hindi cinema by the Ramsay Brothers in the 1980s, with relatively few mainstream studio entries through the 1990s. Raaz (2002) was conceived as a glossy, urban, music-driven supernatural film and is widely credited with reviving commercial horror in Bollywood. Its success established a template that the franchise has followed: a young couple, a haunted location, an unresolved past life or wronged spirit, and a soundtrack-led marketing campaign.
Films in the series
Raaz (2002)
Directed by Vikram Bhatt and starring Bipasha Basu, Dino Morea and Malini Sharma, the film follows a couple who travel to Ooty to repair their failing marriage and encounter a vengeful spirit. It was loosely inspired in tone and premise by the American film What Lies Beneath (2000). The film was a major box-office success and its songs, composed by Nadeem–Shravan, became widely popular.
Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009)
Directed by Mohit Suri, the second instalment starred Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman. The film moved the story to a new set of characters, with a young woman experiencing premonitions of a stranger's death. Despite no narrative link to the original, it was a commercial success and reinforced the franchise's identity.
Raaz 3: The Third Dimension (2012)
Directed by Vikram Bhatt, Raaz 3 was the first Hindi horror film to be released in stereoscopic 3D. It starred Bipasha Basu, Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta in a story about a fading film star using black magic against a younger rival. The film performed strongly at the box office and was among the higher-grossing Hindi releases of 2012.
Raaz Reboot (2016)
Directed by Vikram Bhatt, the fourth film starred Emraan Hashmi, Kriti Kharbanda and Gaurav Arora, and was shot largely in Romania. As the title indicates, it was positioned as a fresh start for the franchise rather than a continuation. Critical and commercial response was muted compared with the earlier instalments.
Music
Music has been central to the franchise's commercial appeal. The original Raaz soundtrack, with playback by singers including Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Alka Yagnik, was among the best-selling Hindi film albums of 2002. Subsequent films featured contributions from composers and singers associated with the Vishesh Films stable, including Pritam, Jeet Gannguli, Mithoon, K.K. and Arijit Singh, with title tracks frequently driving the pre-release publicity.
Significance
The Raaz films are widely regarded as having mainstreamed the supernatural horror genre in post-2000 Hindi cinema, paving the way for other Vishesh Films horror productions such as 1920 and Haunted – 3D, both directed by Vikram Bhatt. The franchise demonstrated that horror could be combined with romantic drama, hit music and major stars to draw a wide urban audience, a formula that several later Hindi horror films have adapted.