Actress Asha Negi, who hails from Uttarakhand, has opened up about how a childhood steeped in folklore, spiritual rituals, and supernatural tales shaped her deep fascination with the horror genre — a connection she says feels entirely personal, not performative.

Rooted in Uttarakhand's Folklore

Speaking ahead of her upcoming horror-comedy series, Asha recalled growing up surrounded by stories of devi-devtas — the regional deity tradition central to Uttarakhand's cultural identity. 'I've heard a lot about devi-devtas. In fact, when we went to Orchha for the shoot of Ali Baba, everyone was sharing their stories with the director. I remember telling them about an incident that happened in my family, back in our village,' she said.

Her family's experiences, she noted, were not abstract mythology but lived memory — stories passed down by her parents from their own time in the village.

The Jaagar Ritual and a Family Encounter

Asha described a particularly overwhelming incident connected to a jaagar — a traditional form of spiritual folk singing and ritual from the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand, performed to invoke deities and ancestral spirits. 'We have jaagars in our village, where a lot of prayers and rituals take place. Sometimes, during these rituals, it is believed that the soul of someone who has passed away from the family can also communicate or speak,' she explained.

On the specific family incident, she said: 'This actually happened in my family, and it was a very overwhelming experience. I definitely believe in this, and these things do happen in our village. My parents would also tell me stories from the time when they used to live in the village. So, I've grown up hearing many such stories.'

About 'Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot'

These real-life roots feed directly into Asha's latest project — 'Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot', a 40-episode horror-comedy series that premiered on 11 September on JioHotstar. The show weaves together ancient folklore, haunted mysteries, and adventure set against the backdrop of Central Indian folklore.

Asha plays Alisha 'Ali' Nigam, a sharp, science-driven neuropsychology expert whose search for her missing father pulls her into a world of supernatural mysteries. Vishal Vashishtha stars opposite her as Baba.

On the Most Universal Fear

Asked whether the show's '40 bhoots' represented 40 human fears, Asha reflected on what she considers the most universal one. 'The most universal fear could be, "What do people think about me?" Every person thinks about how others perceive them. I hope they think good things about me,' she said with characteristic candour.

With 'Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot' now streaming, Asha's folklore-laced upbringing looks set to resonate with audiences drawn to homegrown supernatural storytelling.