“For a long time, I’ve wanted to make a period horror film, set in the hill stations of the British Raj,” he explains, over a vegetable soup. He has chosen newcomers Adah Sharma and Rajneesh Duggal to star in his dream. “I do not audition newcomers,” he clarifies. “I go by instinct. I think the time has come for us not to think that small films should be made with small stars and big films with big stars. Even films with big stars flop. It is the story that works in the end,” he asserts.

Bhatt has included a Rakhi Sawant item number in the movie. “An item number is most needed in a horror film,” explains Bhatt, constantly disconnecting his cell phone. “Till then, the audience’s brains are fried with fear. Constant horror is monotonous. The song brings a bit of relief and is needed because the sequence immediately after will shock the daylights out of you.” Indeed, the music is wonderful. “We were in a quandary; we wanted the songs to sound like they belonged to the year 1920, yet appeal to the listeners of today,” says Bhatt.

Bhatt gives composer Adnan Sami all the credit for pulling it off by enlisting legendary voices such as Parveen Sultana, Asha Bhonsle, Shubha Mudgal and Pandit Jasraj.

Despite technical difficulties, like lighting an entire palace with candles to create that ambience of fear or spending Rs 15 lakhs for polishing the floor after every shot, Bhatt enjoyed making this highly expensive film. “We shot in a haunted house,” he recalls. “But we did not have any problems from the ghosts. I think they were quite happy that someone is making a film on them. You can even say the film is sponsored by spirits,” he laughs, while giving our photographer, Ritika, tips on lighting and shutter-speed.

Bhatt is a strong believer in the existence of ghosts. “Just because modern physics doesn’t say so, doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” he asserts.

Bhatt admits he has seen a few lows when his films haven’t done well at the box-office. But he has his own unique philosophical take on it. “My life can either be about one film or about my growth.” Bhatt’s next directorial venture is Shapit, starring Aditya Narayan. He’s also going to come out with a novel called Summer of Frost. “I hope to finish it by January, but I am very lazy,” he smiles.

SPOOK ME

* Poltergeist

* The Omen (1976)

* The Amityville Horror

* The Evil Dead