Now is as good a time as any for Fernandez to go full-throttle with a horror picture. The genre is hot at the box office right now, so she will be front and centre for an unapologetic scare-fest, with production to start before the month is out. You can expect some noise to be made about it in short order.
You have to give the fans their due: they have been after a more intense side of Fernandez for a while. Word is this one has its roots in the atmosphere and the emotion of it, not just a few well-placed jump-scares. It’s meant to be an event for the big screen, where you can have your thrills with a crowd.
Jacqueline Fernandez goes for the kill in pure horror
One of those in the know says Fernandez was in no rush until a script came along that had the right alchemy of horror, heart and a soundtrack. The idea, he says, is to make something you have to see in a theatre, not just check a box and move on.
It makes sense given how viewers are leaning into the chills lately. Be it Bramayugam, Shaitaan or even the likes of Obsession and Backrooms, and with Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past in the mix, a horror movie is the way to go for a weekend.
What to make of it in the theatres
Not Out Entertainment, Khyati Madaan’s banner, is behind the as-yet-unnamed film and they are going all in. Inside the room, they call it a complete package – the sort of thing that needs top-tier sound and a story that doesn’t let up to work.
So far, here is what we have:
– A song is in the bag
– We have a teaser
– Some of the actors have been in workshops
– They plan to be on set by the end of the month
– Two men are in the running
– An announcement is on the horizon
Keeping the cast and director a secret
Fernandez is the face of it, but who the two male co-stars are is still between us and them. The director and the rest of the troupe are being held in reserve; they want to make a clean break when they do put it out there.
Then again, in horror, a little mystery is part of the draw. With a teaser already done, the makers can turn on the hype without giving the farm away on the plot.
The case for why this will work
There is an old adage in India: if you put some sentiment and a tune in with the scares, you’ll get more people in the seats. This is also a sign that Fernandez is ready to put the glamour aside for some hard-nosed, mood-heavy material.
The fact that they have been in workshops means they have their act together before they even step on set. In a horror, where the timing and the chemistry matter, that kind of prep is what you want to see.
How it slots into her filmography
She did Bhooth Police, sure, but everyone knows that was a comedy with some horror trappings. This is the real deal, and a bold one at that, as the genre is in a strong place.
As for what else is in the pipeline, she was in Housefull 5 and will be in Welcome To The Jungle when it comes out on June 26, 2026. Having that kind of cross-genre presence can only help her standing at the box office.
In a nutshell
You have a star leaving her comfort zone, a genre in vogue and a team that is a few paces ahead of the game. Put the horror, the music and the emotion together and you have a recipe for one of the year’s more talked-about films.
We will have to wait for the word from the top, but with a teaser on hand, don’t be surprised if you feel the first shivers before too long.
