Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

“I would love to do a horror-comedy film if someone offers me a good script,” says Dybbuk star Emraan Hashmi

“I would love to do a horror-comedy film if someone offers me a good script,” says Dybbuk star Emraan Hashmi

Emraan Hashmi is unquestionably a horror film veteran. His tryst with the genre started with Raaz - The Mystery Continues (2009) and saw the addition of Raaz 3 (2012), Ek Thi Daayan (2013), and Raaz: Reboot (2016) to his filmography over the years. The actor now stars in Panorama Studios’ horror film Dybbuk (2021), which is the official remake of the Malayalam supernatural horror thriller Ezra (2017).

Before the grand premiere of the film on Amazon Prime Video, Eastern Eye got the opportunity to speak to Emraan Hashmi to discuss Dybbuk, what makes it different from all the other horror films that he has done before, the absence of songs in it, and what has been the proudest moment of his career so far. The actor also talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed him as a person.


How is Dybbuk different from all the other horror films that you have done as an actor?

It is a very different take on horror. The horror quotient, according to me, is different and amped up and more impactful in this film than other horror films from at least our country. The whole import of Jewish mythology and belief, supernatural or cult, is something that we have not seen in Hindi films before. So, that’s something new. The jump scare moments are pretty unique here.

Had you seen the original film before the makers approached you for the remake, or did you watch it later?

I had seen it almost a year before I heard the script for Dybbuk. Having said that, it was not there anywhere in my consciousness when I was doing the film. I remembered a few things, but I realised that Jay had introduced some interesting changes. He had taken horror a notch higher and put some nuanced changes in the story.

Your films generally have good melodious songs, but it is surprising that Dybbuk has no song. How do you feel?

I am very happy. Anyway, in the present situation, songs are generally doing great as singles. As far as film-based songs go, there is a little debate if they matter because if the theatrical release is not being that effective, we do not want to spoil a film with music, especially the horror films right now on OTT at home. It is not a theatrical viewing. So, we did not want to spoil that experience. It is a pure horror film for the audience, which was the way we wanted – uncorrupted, undiluted – just the way it should be.

After Jeethu Joseph, Jay K is the second Malayalam filmmaker you are working with. How working with South Indian filmmakers who are remaking their own films in Hindi is different than working with Hindi filmmakers?

I do not think it is very different. I mean, obviously, their interpretation of cinema is different. The way they do things in Malayalam is a little more subtle. Theirs is a very intelligent cinema. Some of the best films coming right now are from Malayalam cinema. I am a big fan of Malayalam cinema. It is different in vision, but on sets, everything is pretty much the same. A film set in any language can be as chaotic as it gets.

Suppose a certain scary scene does not have enough horror or jump scares, do you suggest your director add something to it to make it better because you have an experience of so many horror films behind you?

Definitely. I kept telling Jay to take the horror up, which he eventually did. We had a very serious discussion after the first wave of the pandemic. I was even more concerned because people had watched a lot of stuff on streaming platforms. There was a worldview that had changed about films generally, including horror films. I kept on telling him, zoom-calling him, asking him what was he doing about the horror scenes. We had shot 30 per cent of the film before the pandemic and shot the remaining 70 per cent, including the horror films after lockdown opened up. Thankfully, everything is looking scary in the film.

There is a 2012 film called Possession which also had a Dybbuk box. I was wondering if your film has some similarities with the Hollywood one.

I have not watched that film. Dybbuk box has been used in literature. It has been used in some plays and a couple of films also. It is just a device. Dybbuk is a part of folklore in Jewish culture. Jay has used that as a setting, which I am pretty sure has been used in a few other films also. The story of our film, however, in itself is all very original.

How much Dybbuk is different from Ezra?

Jay has tweaked a lot of things for the Pan-India audience. Ezra released in 2017. We were making a film for 2021, so we had to up the game. The visualisation is also very different. We had a fresh cinematographer come in. It looks very international. We had to bring in all those things to, kind of, make it more appealing to an audience that has seen so much great content on streaming media platforms.

What has been the proudest moment of your career?

There is no particular moment, I think. It is not even about successes at the box office. It is the great feeling that you get when you nail a scene on set. That is a proud moment because you put in hard work as an actor. The feeling you get after a hard day’s work and you feel that you nailed the scene is what we live for as an actor.

How about you doing a horror comedy film now?

I would love to do it if someone offers me a good script.

How has the coronavirus pandemic changed you as a person?

I think I have started giving more importance to my health now. I am not taking anything for granted. I have also learnt that it is important to save up for a rainy day. You realise how much you are spending when you stop earning. In lockdown, sitting at home, we did not earn anything. You realised things can actually come to a standstill. Think before you spend is what I would tell people.

Dybbuk is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

More For You

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Cardi B poses with a live crow outside the Petit Palais in Paris

Instagram/lamodemagazine__

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Quick highlights:

  • Cardi B appeared at Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 couture show in Paris holding a live crow on her arm.
  • Her dramatic black gown was designed by Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli’s creative director.
  • The surreal look paid tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli’s legacy of theatrical, boundary-pushing fashion.
  • The show marked a shift in Roseberry’s aesthetic, away from corsetry towards freer silhouettes.

Paris Couture Week opened on a dramatic note this year as Cardi B made a startling entrance at the Petit Palais wearing a black Schiaparelli gown, with a live crow perched on her arm. The rapper’s appearance outside the venue sent photographers scrambling as the bird flapped and squawked, setting the tone for a show rooted in tension, elegance, and surrealism.

The outfit, crafted by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 collection, featured graphic fringe and a towering beaded neckline. But it was the crow, alive, glaring, and restless, that stole the spotlight, embodying the fashion house’s long-standing obsession with the unexpected.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor joins growing criticism of Prada’s uncredited use of Indian design

Getty Images

Kareena Kapoor mocks Prada with her ‘OG Kolhapuri’ post as fashion giant faces backlash over copied design

Quick highlights:

  • Kareena Kapoor posted a cheeky Instagram Story flaunting Kolhapuri chappals, saying, “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri.”
  • Her post follows outrage over Prada’s ‘toe-ring sandals’ resembling the Indian Kolhapuri design.
  • A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court against Prada for unauthorised use of the Kolhapuri style without credit.
  • Prada acknowledged the inspiration and agreed to meet Indian artisans for dialogue.

Kareena Kapoor took a subtle yet sharp swipe at luxury fashion label Prada amid growing controversy around its recently launched ‘toe-ring sandals’, a design that closely mirrors India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals. Without naming the brand, Kareena shared a photo of her feet in silver Kolhapuri slippers during her London vacation and captioned it: “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri ❤️.”

The actor’s post struck a chord with many online, surfacing just days after Prada came under fire for allegedly copying the Kolhapuri design without acknowledgment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield  at Wimbledon

Garfield and Barbaro twin in Ralph Lauren for their most public appearance yet

Instagram/voguemagazine

Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield quietly confirm relationship with Wimbledon appearance

Quick highlights:

  • Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro stepped out in matching Ralph Lauren looks at Wimbledon 2025.
  • The couple shared affectionate moments courtside, including hand-holding and a cheek kiss.
  • They were first linked romantically in February after being spotted at a London play.
  • The pair may reunite on screen in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Artificial.

Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro made their most public appearance yet as a couple on Sunday, arriving hand-in-hand at Wimbledon 2025 in coordinated white ensembles and sharing subtle yet sweet moments of affection. The actors, who were first rumoured to be dating in February, looked completely in sync as they entered the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on 6 July. Dressed in matching Ralph Lauren outfits, the two smiled for cameras and appeared relaxed throughout the day.

  Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro arrive hand in hand at Wimbledon in all whiteInstagram/voguemagazine

Keep ReadingShow less
Kantara Chapter

Rishab Shetty battles through flames in new Kantara Chapter 1 poster

‘Kantara Chapter 1’ poster released on Rishab Shetty’s birthday, confirms October 2025 theatrical date

Quick highlights:

  • Kantara: Chapter 1, the much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, releases in cinemas on 2 October 2025.
  • Poster unveiled on Rishab Shetty’s 42nd birthday shows him in an intense warrior avatar.
  • The film explores the divine origins of Panjurli and Guliga, expanding the Kantara mythology.
  • Massive action sequences filmed with 3,000 participants over 50 days make it one of India’s biggest productions.

Rishab Shetty gave fans a fierce first glimpse into Kantara: Chapter 1 on his 42nd birthday, unveiling a new poster that shows him in full warrior mode. The upcoming prequel to the 2022 Kannada hit Kantara is now officially set to release on 2 October 2025. Directed and headlined once again by Shetty, the film is expected to dive deep into the spiritual and mythological roots of the original story.

   Kantara Chapter 1 poster  Instagram/rishabshettyofficial  

Keep ReadingShow less
Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik shares a moody preview of his upcoming song Fuchsia Sea

Getty Images

Zayn Malik raps about racism he experienced as Asian member of One Direction in "Fuchsia Sea"

Quick highlights:

  • Zayn Malik previewed a new track, Fuchsia Sea, on Instagram, touching on racism he experienced during his One Direction years.
  • “They still laughed at the Asian,” he raps, alluding to feeling othered despite success.
  • Malik was the only South Asian member of the band, which included Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and the late Liam Payne.
  • The track marks a rare public reflection on the racial dynamics behind his 2015 departure from the group.

Zayn Malik is turning to music to process the discrimination he says he experienced during his time with One Direction. On Saturday, 5 July, the 32-year-old singer previewed a raw and emotional rap song titled Fuchsia Sea, sharing a clip and lyrics on Instagram that many fans believe directly address racism he faced as the only South Asian member of the global boy band.

In the verse, Malik raps: “I worked hard in a White band, and they still laughed at the Asian.” The line immediately sparked intense conversation online, with listeners pointing out how it echoed long-suspected tensions about racial identity and representation during his tenure in One Direction.

Keep ReadingShow less