EXCLUSIVE: Tia Bajpai Recalls Working With Vikram Bhatt In Haunted 3D; Confesses, “I Didn’t Choose Acting, It Chose Me”

Tia Bajpai shares her journey from music albums to becoming the lead in Haunted 3D, India’s first stereoscopic 3D horror film. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, she opened up about how Vikram Bhatt spotted her, the challenges of shooting in eerie locations, and why horror remains a genre she takes seriously — even if the industry didn’t at the time.

Tia Bajpai Recalls Working With Vikram Bhatt In Haunted 3D

Talking about how she got into the acting profession, Tia said, “I didn’t choose acting, acting chose me. I got noticed because, at that time, I was working with Vikram Bhatt sir for my music album. He also had a music production team, and I was busy completing my album. Once my album was fully recorded, we did a photoshoot, and that’s when he saw me with the whole look and all. He just said, ‘I want you to play Meera in this film called Haunted 3D, and you’re perfect for it ‘, because in the movie, my character Meera sings and plays the piano. So he just saw me, and that’s how I got Haunted.”

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She further added, “I never really thought of becoming a Bollywood heroine as a big deal. You know, for that, you need a lot of talent. Apart from talent, you need to be good-looking, you need to stand out in a crowd, that’s a basic requirement. So when they approached me for that, I couldn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Yes sir, I will definitely do it.’

Tia: Haunted 3D Was A Big Deal In India

Talking about how people still remember her for her role in Haunted, Tia said, “That film was such a big deal in India. Even today, I can’t believe I was the lead actress in Haunted 3D, and people loved the film. They loved me too. Even now, when I go out, people say, ‘Haunted 3D is my favorite film’, whether in Europe, the UK, the US, or Dubai — people have watched my films everywhere. It’s not like the film was only released in 2011 — it’s still in people’s minds, and they still love it. So I think I must have done something right.“

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The actress also shared her experience on working in Haunted 3D. She revealed, “Some experiences were intense. We used really beautiful locations. We shot Haunted in Ooty, at Glen Manor — a very beautiful but haunting old structure from the British era. Then, in 1920, we also shot in Sweden. Beautiful locations add to the cinematic experience because, on camera, you need visuals to make it effective.”

Tia: It Was India’s First Stereoscopic 3D Film

Talking about the horror genre, Tia said, “And the biggest thing about horror is that half its impact comes from the look itself. Haunted 3D was India’s first stereoscopic 3D film. So it had a huge brand factor. Today, I wouldn’t say the same, as I want to make horror-comedy, but for me, horror is pure horror. It cannot be comedy because that doesn’t work for me. Like in the West, if you see films like Conjuring or Insidious, they don’t mess around, horror is serious business, and it should stay that way.“

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She continued, “When Haunted was released, honestly, nobody took me seriously. Everyone was like, ‘Horror isn’t even a genre; horror films aren’t really films.’ And now, 10–11 years later, I see people doing the same things. I was just a little ahead of my time.”

Watch the full interview here

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