Ram Gopal Varma Says ‘Bhoot’ Shooting Apartment Has Remained Vacant Since 2002
Director reveals eerie detail about the shooting location during a special screening of the horror classic at a Mumbai film festival.
Mumbai: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has revealed that the apartment where much of his 2002 horror film Bhoot was shot has reportedly remained unoccupied for more than two decades.
Speaking at a special screening of the film during the Red Lorry Film Festival 2026 in Mumbai, Varma said the flat, located in the Lokhandwala Complex, gained widespread notoriety after the movie’s release, discouraging potential residents from moving in.
According to the director, several people showed interest in the property over the years but eventually declined to occupy it after learning about its connection with the film.
Varma explained that the decision to set the story inside an apartment building rather than a bungalow was intentional. Since the plot was based in Mumbai, he wanted the setting to feel realistic and relatable to urban audiences.
The film follows a married couple who move into a seemingly ordinary flat that later becomes the centre of disturbing supernatural events. The movie starred Ajay Devgn and Urmila Matondkar in the lead roles.
During the interaction, Varma also shared details about the film’s production. He said most of the scenes were shot inside a single apartment, allowing the team to complete filming in just about 30 days.
The filmmaker also discussed his choice of casting Matondkar, revealing that her performance in the song “Hai Rama” from the film Rangeela convinced him she could portray the complex emotional transitions required for the horror story.
The film also featured performances by Nana Patekar, Rekha, Fardeen Khan and Tanuja.
Following the success of the original movie, Varma later directed the sequel Bhoot Returns in 2012, starring Manisha Koirala.
Known for his work in the horror genre, Varma has also directed films such as Raat, Phoonk and Phoonk 2.
At the event, the director also hinted at future projects, saying that work on Sarkar 4, the next installment of the political crime franchise that began with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role, is expected to begin soon.
