Bhootam Bhayyam (2026): Mr-Language Horror Film News

The cast and crew of Bhootam Bhayyam might have delivered a comedy-horror on screen, but behind the cameras, the experience was apparently terrifying in the most unexpected ways. Actor Neel Salekar, who plays one of the seven unemployed friends at the center of the story, has opened up about the real-life frights and sheer chaos that plagued their set, revealing that the "cursed" atmosphere wasn't just a scripted detail. In an exclusive conversation, Salekar detailed how the production of the Ramchandra Gaonkar-directed film, which hit theaters on July 24, 2026, was as unpredictable as the ancient spirits his character battles.

A Set That Refused to Stay Quiet

According to Salekar, the film’s haunted mansion location was chosen for its authentic, decaying charm, but that authenticity came with a persistent, unsettling side effect. "Our horror set was full of constant, unexplained sounds," he revealed, describing how the crew grew accustomed to creaking floorboards and rattling windows even when no wind was blowing. The actor explained that the eerie ambience was so pervasive that it blurred the line between performance and reality. "At first, we thought it was the sound department playing tricks on us," he said. "But by the third week, everyone - from the light boys to the lead actors - was looking over their shoulders. You’d be rehearsing a funny scene, and then a door would slam shut on its own. It wasn't in the script."

Salekar noted that the chaos wasn't limited to ghostly acoustics. The production faced a series of logistical nightmares that contributed to a frenetic shooting schedule. He mentioned that power outages were a near-daily occurrence, often happening mid-take during the most intense planchette sequences. "We’d be in the middle of a séance scene, and the lights would just die," he said. "In the darkness, someone would inevitably knock over a prop, and then we’d all scream - not for the scene, but because we genuinely scared each other." Despite the 164-minute runtime and the film's ambitious mix of genres, the tension on set reportedly forced the team to adopt a "take it as it comes" philosophy. Salekar credited director Gaonkar for maintaining morale, often turning the technical disasters into improvisational comedy breaks that eventually found their way into the final cut.

Why the Fear Was a Blessing in Disguise

The actor was quick to clarify that all the real-life dread ultimately served the film’s purpose. Bhootam Bhayyam follows a group of jobless friends who stumble upon a mysterious coin in a cursed mansion, using it in planchette sessions to make quick money - only to awaken ancient forces that turn their get-rich scheme into a fight for survival. With that premise, Salekar believes the cast's genuine unease translated into more convincing performances. "You can't fake the look of someone who just heard a bang in the attic," he said. "Our eyes were wide, our hands were shaking. The director kept the cameras rolling during those moments of real panic. He told us, 'Hold that feeling, don't break character.'"

Salekar also praised his co-stars - including Chhaya Kadam, Karan Sonawane, Saurabh Ghadge, Sidhanth Sarfare, Shubham Jadhav, Pushkaraj Chirputkar, and Manmeet Pem - for turning the chaos into a bonding experience. He shared a particular anecdote involving a stray cat that wandered onto the set during a night shoot. "The cat walked right up to the planchette board we were using," he recalled. "Nobody wanted to touch it. We just froze. Then Chhaya ma’am calmly picked it up and said, 'Maybe it’s the previous owner of this house, checking on our progress.' We all burst out laughing, and the tension broke for a few minutes. That was the rhythm of our shoot - terror, then laughter, then terror again."

While the TMDb rating currently sits at a neutral 0/10, Salekar isn't concerned about early metrics. He argued that the film’s chaotic production history is proof of the team’s commitment to pushing boundaries. "We went through seventeen-hour days, technical meltdowns, and enough spooky coincidences to fill a horror anthology," he said. "When you pour that much stress and sweat into a project, you hope the audience feels the energy on screen." The actor hinted that some of the "haunted" moments from the shoot might eventually be released as behind-the-scenes featurettes, but for now, he’s just relieved the film is out in the open. "We survived the mansion," he said with a laugh. "Whether the audience survives the film is another story - but I think they’ll be laughing and screaming in equal measure."

Source: Filmibeat