The horror franchise film 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past' has emerged as the unexpected leader among last week's Hindi releases, outperforming high-profile dramas such as 'Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata', 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', and 'Governor'. The supernatural thriller has taken the top spot at the weekend box office, surprising many industry observers.
Vikram Bhatt Reacts to Box Office Performance
In an interview with News 18, director Vikram Bhatt expressed that he was not taken aback by the film's strong performance, despite criticism that the movie lacked aggressive promotion. Bhatt explained that the marketing campaign was strategically tailored to reach a specific target audience rather than employing a broad, expensive approach.
"No, I'm not (surprised). Because the film was promoted. But it was promoted where we thought we should promote it. Fortunately or unfortunately, we didn't have the budget to carpet bomb. So we targeted that audience that we knew would come for the film," Bhatt stated.
Why the Promotion Strategy Was Different
The director further revealed that while hoardings for the film were erected, the team deliberately avoided excessive promotional spending. This decision was based on their view of 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past' as a mass-market film, expecting ticket sales to stem from its dedicated fan base rather than a broad metro-centric campaign. Bhatt added that trade analysts may have overlooked the film's promotional efforts because the marketing was not directed at them or major metropolitan areas on a large scale. "We were clear about that," the director emphasized.
Box Office Collection
'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past' has amassed Rs 18.91 crore gross and Rs 16.12 crore net in India so far. In comparison, Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' has collected Rs 14.60 crore gross and Rs 12.25 crore net during the same period.
Starring Mahaakshay Chakraborty, the film was released in theaters on June 12, 2026.
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