For decades, mainstream Hindi horror cinema routinely relegated women to shrieking ghouls, witches, or vengeance-seeking apparitions designed purely to shock audiences. Traditional storylines rarely gave these supernatural entities any emotional depth, backstories, or human agency. However, Hindi cinema has undergone a substantial thematic transformation over the past decade. Modern supernatural thrillers now explore the psychology, unresolved trauma, and moral motivations of otherworldly female figures. Yami Gautam's upcoming film Nai Naveli is generating widespread buzz precisely for following this nuanced path.
The Intriguing Premise Behind Yami Gautam's Nai Naveli
Set against the backdrop of an ordinary family living in Meerut, Nai Naveli revolves around a newly married bride played by Yami Gautam. As she steps into her marital home, mysterious occurrences begin to unfold, gradually revealing supernatural abilities to the shock of her new family members. The anticipated film is scheduled for release on October 16. Ahead of its theatrical arrival, five defining supernatural movies showcase how filmmakers reinvented female supernatural roles on the Indian screen.
Shraddha Kapoor's Stree and the Legend of Chanderi
Starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, the horror-comedy Stree transformed how audiences viewed spirits in Indian cinema. Set in the fictionalized town of Chanderi, the narrative focuses on a mythical spirit who visits during a festive period each year and abducts men. While the town initially lives in sheer terror of the entity, the film gradually unpacks layers of her identity and dignity. Shraddha Kapoor ultimately emerges as the primary heroine who acts as the protector of the town's men.
Anushka Sharma's Unsettling and Dark Turn in Pari
Steering away from conventional jump scares, Anushka Sharma brought an intense and visceral dread to audiences with Pari. In the film, Sharma portrayed Rukhsana, a troubled woman linked to the mythological folklore of an Ifrit. While Rukhsana initially appears terrifying and enigmatic, the storyline soon peels back the horrific trauma and severe suffering she endured. The movie presented Anushka Sharma in one of the most frightening and emotionally raw performances of her career.
Triptii Dimri's Bulbbul: Reclaiming Agency Through Folklore
Released on Netflix in 2020, Bulbbul was produced under Anushka Sharma's production banner Clean Slate Filmz and featured Triptii Dimri in the titular lead. Set against a late-nineteenth-century Bengali estate, the period narrative traces Bulbbul's life through child marriage, domestic betrayal, and harrowing physical abuse. Over time, she transforms into an enigmatic vigilante spirit targeting men who perpetrate violence against women. The film effectively reimagined the folklore trope of the witch into an empowering symbol of resistance and justice.
Janhvi Kapoor's Roohi and Folklore Legends
Janhvi Kapoor took on the horror-comedy genre in Roohi, playing an innocent woman possessed by a supernatural entity known as Mudiyapairi. Drawing from regional rural folklore, the spirit is traditionally identified by backward-pointing feet. The film merged moments of genuine supernatural tension with broad comedy, allowing Kapoor to shift between two distinct personalities.
Shraddha Kapoor's Return in the 2024 Sequel Stree 2
In 2024, Stree 2 hit the screens as the direct sequel to the acclaimed horror thriller starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor. Expanding the folklore universe of Chanderi, the storyline picked up the narrative threads of the original. Shraddha Kapoor once again led the film, tackling fresh supernatural challenges and further cementing the franchise's popularity.
