Bollywood Horror Comedy Called Out: Easy Way Out?

After Tumbbad, Rahi Anil Barve has released MayaSabha: The Hall of Illusion following years of effort to complete and bring the film to theatres. As discussions around the film grow, Barve’s recent remarks have sparked debate about the current state of horror in Bollywood.

In a recent interview, Barve spoke about his journey as an animator and the long timelines his films often face. He also shared pointed views on how horror films are being made today, which caught the attention of many fans and industry watchers.

Anil Barve said horror is one of the hardest genres to execute well. Creating genuine fear among viewers is far more challenging than it appears, and requires deep understanding of atmosphere, pacing, and audience psychology.

According to him, comedy and sleaze often become escape routes for filmmakers unwilling to fully commit to horror. He feels this approach weakens the genre, even though it brings easy money. He also admitted that he may explore such formats himself someday.

His comments have pushed audiences to reflect on the recent rise of horror comedies in Bollywood. Serious and unsettling horror films have become rare, with mainstream cinema leaning more towards lighter and safer horror comedy formulas.

From Maddock’s horror comedy universe to Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s upcoming Bhooth Bangla, many filmmakers are exploring this space. However, few are ready to risk making a pure horror film, as horror comedy remains an easier approach.

While series like Khauf on Prime Video and films like Kajol’s Maa show attempts to revive the genre, Gujarati films such as Vash 2 stand out. They remind audiences how effective horror relies on tension, psychology, and controlled fear.

True horror plays with anticipation and delivers scares when least expected. It is an art that is difficult to master. Bollywood often replaces fear with humour, sometimes succeeding with films like Stree, and other times offering only average results.