Creating a worthy successor to Amar Kaushik's hit Stree (2018) is no mean feat and the horror-comedy's makers have ventured into appropriately dark territory with Roohi. The trailer for the film, starring Rajkummar Rao, Varun Sharma, and Janhvi Kapoor, has humour, scares, and a touch of self-deprecation. The film is being produced by Jio Studios and Maddock Films and will be released in theatres on 11 March.
A switch from the first film, the story revolves around a legendary witch who kidnaps brides on the eve of their wedding. Incidentally, two kidnappers who are involved in a similar task find themselves face to face with this witch. The only way to escape the wrath of the crone is to get her married. The question is now who will bell the cat. Along the way come babas and fakirs whose technology varies from 'bluetooth' to 'paan'.
Director Hardik Mehta's film has a sharp trailer that packs a lot of thrills and VFX. From jump scares to the eerie head spins, the visuals look good. The trailer is boosted by the presence of three actors in their element. Rao seems to be reprising his quirky Ludo (2020) character with his hyper-energetic performance. This time, the actor plays a man with a speech impediment, which makes for some hilarious moments. Rao seems to have found a taste for comedy and looks comfortable in the skin of his character. He is accompanied by Sharma whose impeccable comic timing adds to the trailer's value. The film also marks the horror-comedy debut of Kapoor, and the actress does well as an innocent girl caught in the witch's snare.
Though the trailer recycles familiar cliches when it comes to Kapoor's portrayal of the witch, that does not take away from the fact that the prosthetic work is impressive. The first film scored high thanks to its humour and wit. Hopefully, these elements shine through in Mehta's film as well.
Check out the trailer below and let us know if you are keen on watching the film.