First look: Vicky Kaushal is trapped in Dharma's Bhoot Part One – The Haunted Ship

Vicky Kaushal takes the lead in writer Bhanu Pratap Singh's directorial debut, Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship. The film marks Dharma Productions' first full-blown foray into the horror genre. The studio will back the film alongside Shashank Khaitan.

The first look of the film features Kaushal's screaming visage peeking out of a broken ship window, as a grimy hand claws his face. 

The film will also feature Bhumi Pednekar in a role opposite Kaushal. Written by Bhanu Pratap Singh, the concept was developed further with the help of Shashank Khaitan, a batchmate of Singh, before Dharma Productions was approached. 

The newspaper DNA quoted Khaitan as saying, "Karan [Johar] loved it. Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship is based on a true incident that took place in Mumbai. The shooting is complete. The post-production is underway and the film will open in cinemas on 15 November this year." 

The film is based on a haunted ship with the crew trapped within. Initially scripted to be a series, the film will be driven by on-set special effects and visual effects (VFX). It also marks the first thriller/horror film from Dharma Productions since Kaal (2005).

Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship is due to be released on 15 November, with part two to follow next year.