Vikram Bhatt to direct '1920: Cold Winter', teams up with Anand Pandit
Synopsis
Vikram Bhatt is returning to the 1920 franchise he helped build — this time with 'Cold Winter' in his title and Anand Pandit back as producer. Fresh off 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past', Bhatt is consolidating his grip on Bollywood horror with a back-to-back franchise play that few directors in the genre can match.
Key Takeaways
Vikram Bhatt will write and direct '1920: Cold Winter' , the next chapter in the long-running 1920 horror franchise.
The film will be produced by Anand Pandit and co-produced by Roopa Pandit and Rahul V Dubey .
Bhatt and Pandit previously collaborated on 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past' , released on 12 June 2026 .
The previous franchise entry, '1920: Horrors of the Heart' , was directed by Krishna Bhatt , Vikram Bhatt's daughter.
A release date for '1920: Cold Winter' has not yet been announced.
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt is set to helm the next instalment of the iconic horror franchise, titled '1920: Cold Winter'. The announcement comes on the heels of his latest release, 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past', which has been drawing strong audience response since hitting screens on 12 June 2026.
The New Collaboration
For '1920: Cold Winter', Bhatt is reuniting with producer Anand Pandit, building on the momentum of their recent joint venture with 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past'. The film will be written and directed by Vikram Bhatt, produced by Anand Pandit, and co-produced by Roopa Pandit and Rahul V Dubey.
The Franchise So Far
The 1920 franchise has been a cornerstone of mainstream Hindi horror cinema since its debut. The most recent chapter, '1920: Horrors of the Heart', was directed by Krishna Bhatt — Vikram Bhatt's daughter — and was also produced by Anand Pandit, making this a continuation of a well-established creative partnership. With '1920: Cold Winter', Vikram Bhatt returns to the director's chair for the franchise himself.
Bhatt on His Connection with Fear
Speaking about his longstanding affinity for horror storytelling, Vikram Bhatt has previously explained the philosophical underpinning of his genre choices. 'I really feel I have a connection with fear. I think fear is the basis of all other emotions in the world. If you look carefully, fear of losing someone is possessiveness. Fear of not having enough is greed. Fear of being lonely is relationships. Fear of being left behind is competitiveness. The world is guided by fear,' he said.
He elaborated further: 'The entire animal kingdom is based on fear. Fear is the only emotion that even a single celled creature feels. Because fear is essential for survival. As a filmmaker, I've always made stories on darker relationships, on darker perspectives. And so it doesn't come to me as a surprise that I'm close to fear. I think it's in all of us.'
What to Watch Next
With 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past' still drawing audiences and '1920: Cold Winter' now officially in the works, Vikram Bhatt and Anand Pandit appear to be doubling down on their position as the leading duo in Bollywood's horror space. A release timeline for '1920: Cold Winter' is yet to be announced.
Point of View
And returning to the 1920 brand — rather than launching a new IP — signals confidence in franchise equity over auteur novelty. What is worth watching is whether 'Cold Winter' attempts a tonal or visual evolution of the series, or leans on the established period-horror formula that has worked reliably so far. With OTT platforms aggressively acquiring horror content, a theatrical franchise with proven recall is a valuable asset — but only if each instalment raises the creative stakes.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is '1920: Cold Winter'?
'1920: Cold Winter' is the next instalment in the '1920' Bollywood horror franchise, to be written and directed by Vikram Bhatt and produced by Anand Pandit. A release date has not yet been announced.
Who is directing '1920: Cold Winter'?
Vikram Bhatt will direct '1920: Cold Winter'. He is also the writer of the film, reuniting with producer Anand Pandit after their recent collaboration on 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past'.
Who directed the previous '1920' film?
The previous entry in the franchise, '1920: Horrors of the Heart', was directed by Krishna Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt's daughter, and was also produced by Anand Pandit.
What is Vikram Bhatt's latest release before '1920: Cold Winter'?
Vikram Bhatt's latest release is 'Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past', which hit screens on 12 June 2026 and has received a positive audience response.
Why does Vikram Bhatt focus on horror films?
Bhatt has said he feels a deep personal connection with fear, describing it as the root of all human emotions — from possessiveness to greed to relationships. He has stated that his inclination toward darker storytelling makes horror a natural fit for him as a filmmaker.
