Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt seems to have a soft spot for the supernatural and the occult. At least his films — Raaz, 1920, Shaapit, Haunted 3D, Dangerous Ishq, Raaz 3 — reflect that. Ask the filmmaker about it and he admits that this fascination goes beyond tapping the genre on screen, as he confesses to being extremely spiritual. Talking about his urge to delve into the space of the paranormal, Vikram insists that for him, horror is not a genre, but the villain in his stories. Here, he talks about this love for horror; competition and following his heart ...

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Most of your films delve into complexities of human nature, but you tend to play safe when it comes to the film on the whole? There’s a part of me that probably wants to make a different kind of cinema as a director, but I believe that entertainment comes before art or intellectualism. I am here to earn money for my producers, as a director that’s my job and that’s what I aim to do. I feel that a director is many things, he craves to seek immortality for his name, be called a genius, yet make money, so the idea is to find a sane balance.

You have dabbled in action, romantic thrillers, but of late you seem to have found a comfort zone in horror…I don’t look at them as horror. I only tell human stories, so these are love stories or human dramas, where I use horror as a villain. I find the supernatural very fascinating, because what a human mind doesn’t see in black and white makes it curious and it seeks answers. This automatically opens the window to endless possibilities, which is exciting to explore personally, and professionally makes for an interesting watch on screen.

Your upcoming film Raaz 3 comes with a lot of expectations…Yes, Raaz comes with pressure, but I am not letting myself be bogged down.

How was it working with Bipasha (Basu) again after so many years?Fun as ever. She’s still just as naughty, but she has wisened up now. She’s not a baby anymore and understands cinematic aspects better.

Sexuality is a strong aspect in your films?That’s how humans really are, till they are not chained by society’s rules, said and unsaid. I just let them inch closer to that side of our nature.

You are quite low-key...Yes, I am not good at being boombastic or tomtomming myself. I am a very private person and quite boring really. There are too many things in my head. So, I am not the easiest person to be around with. In fact, I am quite the nutter, sort of a schizophrenic or dual personality when it comes my personal and professional space (laughs). It’s best for me to keep the two separate.

What’s your take on competition?You know, I have sort of realised the insignificance of everything in context of the bigger picture. Once you have that kind of a vision, your priorities are clear. So, I am content in my space. I follow my heart, I make films, the films make money and that’s that.