Jack Davis: Nushrratt carried a lot on her shoulders and also on her stomach in Chhorii

Chhorii

Director and producer of Nushrratt Bharuccha starrer Chhori, Vishal Furia, along with producers Vikram Malhotra and Jack Davis, discuss the recent release with mid-day.com and tell us what went into making the horror film.

Vishal, how did you decide to turn your Marathi film Lapachhapi into Chhorii?

Vishal Furia: After making the original and the response it received, I thought it would be pan-India story. Vikram (Malhotra, producer) saw the film and called me over. We had a lovely chat about the long term vision for the genre, a vision we both shared. We were in sync and that's how Chhorii happened.

Would you agree there's a lot more to explore when it comes to horror in Hindi films?

Vishal: Absolutely! We have not even scratched the surface because we were stuck in a certain way of using the genre to tell our stories. It was necessary to do away with that format and use a pure method. Chhorii is an attempt in that director hoping it leads to many more filmmakers coming up with honest horror stories.

How did Nushrratt Bharuccha come on board?

Vikram Malhotra: I've seen Nushrratt's commitment and talent from close quarters. She is the kind of talent that's very disruptive not just in her choice of scripts but also the nuances she brings even while portraying girl next door characters Nushrratt happened to be in our office when we were discussing the We didn't even have a title yet but I wanted them to meet. It all just came together and the crackling chemistry that Nushrratt and Vishal had while making this film is evident when you watch it.

Jack, having produced horror film abroad what is it that got you on board for Chhorii?

Jack Davis: What got me on board is what makes any horror film special! A great story, empathy and care for the protagonist, whether they are scares or not. There are two reasons to fall in love with the protagonist- One we have a wonderful director in Vishal, who creates the intimacy and emotion in the first twenty minutes so you can enjoy scares for the rest of the film. If you don't care for the protagonist you won't enjoy the film. Nushrratt carries a lot on her shoulders and also on her stomach, her belly bump. The bad scary movies are just where you think just how to scare the audience, the good ones are where you put the character first.

Also Read:'Chhorii' is an important film of my career: Nushrratt Bharuccha