Oct 17, 2026 6:00pm IST
Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kriti Sanon: The Rise of the New Horror Heroine in Indian Cinema
Horror has always had a special place for women in Indian cinema. They have been the haunted, the possessed, the victims and sometimes the terrifying presence behind the door. But increasingly, actresses are doing more than reacting to a scare. They are becoming the biggest draw of films about ghosts, curses and supernatural forces.
From Yami Gautam’s “Nayyi Navelli” to Tamannaah Bhatia’s “The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest” and Sharvari’s “Munjya 2” to Alia Bhatt joining “Tumbbad 2”, actresses continue to find exciting roles in the genre. Kriti Sanon is also set to make her debut in pure horror with an upcoming large-scale Maddock Films project.
The trend is not entirely new. Indian horror has relied on women for decades, but their roles are changing. They are no longer just the people screaming in the background. They can be the hero, the mystery or even the reason everyone else is terrified.
Yami Gautam and Alia Bhatt enter darker worlds
Yami Gautam’s “Nayyi Navelli”, directed by Balaji Mohan, puts her at the center of a supernatural mystery. She plays Mohini, a new bride whose arrival in a Meerut household raises suspicions that she may be a daayan. Blending folklore and horror-comedy, the film keeps audiences guessing about her true nature.
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For an actor who has moved between romantic comedies, political dramas and courtroom stories, horror offers another opportunity to explore a different side. The genre thrives on characters whose intentions are difficult to read. Is the woman a victim, a villain or something in between?
Alia Bhatt has joined Sohum Shah and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in “Tumbbad 2”. The 2018 original built its reputation on folklore, greed and an unsettling atmosphere. Details of Bhatt’s character remain under wraps, but her addition opens up new possibilities for the sequel.
Kriti Sanon, Sharvari and Shraddha Kapoor: The Maddock horror universe
Maddock Films has built a successful horror-comedy universe where supernatural creatures, folklore and humor go hand in hand. Its female characters have helped give these films their identity.
In “Munjya,” Sharvari plays Bela, a young woman caught up in a supernatural nightmare. Its box-office success showed that audiences were ready to embrace horror-comedies that balance scares with entertainment. Munjiya 2 is in the works.
Shraddha Kapoor has become another key face of the universe through “Stree” and “Stree 2”. Her mysterious character keeps audiences guessing, with her identity and motives forming an important part of the films’ appeal. Stree is not simply someone to fear but a central figure in the mythology connecting these stories. Stree 3 will take the story further.
Kriti Sanon is preparing to explore a darker side of the genre with her upcoming Maddock project. She previously appeared in “Bhediya” as Dr Anika, a veterinarian caught up in the mystery surrounding Varun Dhawan’s werewolf transformation. Her new film marks a step into pure horror.
Tamannaah Bhatia and the commercial appeal of horror
Tamannaah Bhatia has also made supernatural stories an important part of her recent filmography. “Aranmanai 4”, the Tamil horror-comedy starring Bhatia alongside Raashii Khanna, combined haunted-house scares with humor and family drama. Its commercial success showed that horror can attract audiences without sacrificing mainstream entertainment.
Bhatia also appeared in the Telugu supernatural thriller “Odela 2,” playing a powerful spiritual figure confronting dark forces.
These films show the range horror offers actresses. One role may require emotional intensity, while another calls for action, comedy or an imposing screen presence. Sometimes a woman fights the supernatural threat. At other times, she may be the very reason it exists.
After the recent screen mythological folk-horror spectacle “The Vvaan: Force of the Forest,” she is officially taking over one of India’s most famous horror franchises to star in “Ragini 3.”
South Indian cinema has been doing this for years
The trend extends beyond Hindi cinema. Anushka Shetty’s “Bhaagamathie” placed an IAS officer at the center of a supernatural thriller, blending political intrigue with psychological tension. Nayanthara’s “Maya” built its story around a haunted film, giving the actor a leading role in a chilling supernatural narrative.
Taapsee Pannu’s “Game Over” mixed psychological horror with a home-invasion story. Her character must confront her fears while fighting to survive, showing that a horror protagonist need not be physically invincible to be compelling.
Together, these films demonstrate how women can lead horror stories in different ways. They can investigate a haunting, challenge supernatural forces or confront fears that are as much psychological as physical.
Why horror works for actresses
Horror allows characters to be complicated. Fear can expose insecurities, grief can take on a physical form and anger can become something frightening. An actress can move from quiet restraint to explosive emotion within a single scene.
The genre has also traditionally drawn on fears surrounding women’s independence and power, often portraying female ghosts and witches as dangerous figures. Modern films can turn those conventions on their head, allowing women to control the story rather than simply suffer through it. Of course, having a prominent actress in a horror film does not automatically make it female-led.
With Yami Gautam exploring supernatural mysteries, Sharvari and Shraddha Kapoor helping build Maddock’s horror universe, Tamannaah Bhatia finding success in South Indian horror, Alia Bhatt preparing to enter “Tumbbad 2” and Kriti Sanon gearing up for her horror debut, the genre has plenty of exciting possibilities ahead.
Horror does not always need a conventional hero. Sometimes, all it takes is a woman with a secret, a house full of mysteries and a strange noise coming from the room nobody wants to enter.
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