Top Bollywood Horror Movies to Watch in 2023

Has anyone ever told you that watching horror movies can help you burn calories? That doesn’t mean you go binge-watching the entire marathon for losing the extra pounds you just gained. Do you have any favorite spine-chilling horror movies in Bollywood? Not one, we guess. Bollywood movies have a lousy reputation when it comes to horror movies. All one can think of when it comes to Bollywood movies; is mostly a girl taking a shower and some terrible work on visuals. They were everything but nothing close to horror. Bollywood horror movies were more like a sleaze fest gone wrong. How can one forget the iconic haveli and the very famous Ramu Kaka, who has been residing there for years? The lampshades and the growling voices one hears at midnight. The ghosts were not at all monstrous and didn’t get us started on their resemblance to erotic thrillers.

Did Hindi horror movies fail us?

Ram Gopal Verma revolutionized the horror genre before he started choosing other paths. There are many Bollywood horror films given to us as some Hollywood standard horror movies. We bet it is hard to watch these movies alone. Grab your snacks, turn the lights off, and get ready to dedicate your weekend to spin-chilling horror that will undoubtedly give you goosebumps.

The Hindi horror movies list one must look out for:

1. 1920: Horrors of the Heart

Directed by Krishna Bhatt & written by Mahesh Bhatt, This movie is a horror film & fifth film of the 1920 film series. The cast includes Avika Gor, Rahul Dev, Barkha Bisht, Randheer Rai & other popular actors. The movie collected Rs. 17.35 crores & became a success in the Indian Cinema. In the movie, Meghna, the 21 year old girl tried to tell her father about her love affair with Dheeraj but the story takes a turn when Dheeraj commits Suicide. Meghna learns about her mother’s hand for his death, she tries to take revenge with her father’s spirit. Watch the movie to know the entire story.

2. Phone Bhoot

A 2022 Indian Hindi-language supernatural comedy film titled Phone Bhoot, also known as Phone Ghost, was produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the Excel Entertainment brand. It was directed by Gurmeet Singh. Starring in the movie is Jackie Shroff, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ishaan Khattar, and Katrina Kaif.  On November 4, 2022, it was theatrically released to mixed reviews from the reviewers.

After watching a lot of scary movies since they were young, Major and Gullu are two unemployed young men who want to make a profession as exorcists and ghostbusters. They live in a rented home where they frequently pray to their close friend “Raka” for assistance in eradicating their poverty through a statue of Raka they found while excavating a hill. After getting Raka’s approval one day, they decide to organize a ghost Halloween party at midnight and make the necessary preparations. Raka’s sparkling eyes abruptly closed at midnight. Major and Gullu attach the light source of the eyeballs to a live wire in order to illuminate it and repair Raka’s eyes. To know further must watch the movie.

3. Bulbul

Bulbbul, a supernatural thriller set in 2020 India, was written and directed by Anvita Dutt. Avinash Tiwary, Paoli Dam, Rahul Bose, and Parambrata Chattopadhyay all made an appearance, with Tripti Dimri playing the main role. Under the auspices of Clean Slate Films, Anushka Sharma and Karnesh Sharma produced it. Tripti Dimri received mostly favorable reviews. The film’s narrative, which is set in Bengal around the 1880s, focuses on the transition of a young bride from helpless to strong. On June 24, 2020, Bulbbul on Netflix had its debut.

The story opens in a village in Bengal Presidency in the nineteenth century. When Bulbbul is just five years old, she is married off to Indranil, the Bado Thakur (Elder Lord). The youngest brother of Indranil, Satya, is closer in age to her, and she interacts well. Together, Bulbbul and Satya grow up while playing and exchanging tales about a demonic woman (“chudail”).

4. Mahal – 1949

Wonder where the gothic Bollywood horror movies started? Say thanks to Kamal Amrohi, ‘Mahal’ was directed in 1949. It was the first Indian movie based on the incarnation. This film featured Ashok Kumar and Madhubala. Mahal gave the very famous ghostly song- ‘Aayega Aane Wala.’ We guess the love for Havelis started with this movie. The plot is filled with suspense. The story begins when a young lawyer buys an old palace, and Gardner dictates the story of two lovers who died as their love failed. The lawyer, Shankar, later finds out that it’s his rebirth, and the ghost haunting the place is his past-life lover Kamini. However, there is a twist for which you must watch the Bollywood horror movie.

5. Bees Saal Baad – 1962

Adaptations from Hollywood came into being with ‘Bees Saal Baad,’ inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s- The Hound of the Baskervilles. Biren Nag directed it with stars like Biswajeet, Waheeda Rehman, Madan Puri, and Asit Sen. ‘Kahin deep Jale’ was the song that everyone remembers from it. It is an iconic thriller, of a spirit seeking vengeance on Thakur, the man who raped her. She does not just stop killing Thakur but later kills every male descendant of his family. However, then the plot thickens, and many secrets unfold when the grandson Kumar visits the town.

6. Kohraa – 1964

A thriller horror movie written by Dhruva Chatterjee starring Waheeda Rehman, Biswajeet, and Lalita Pawar was a massive hit. Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca was the inspiration for this movie. Like any horror movie, there is a mansion and a Dai Maa taking care of the hero. Our hero Amit Kumar Singh marries a beautiful Rajeshwari. The plot thickens when in this Bollywood horror movie, our hero goes on a business trip. Rajeshwari learns about his ex-dead wife whose ghost wants to connect with her. With every passing day, she learns something new about this ghost. To know who killed Poonam and why Rajeshwari is the one she is connecting with, watch the movie.

7. Raaz – 2002

Every 90’s kid remembers this movie and the sizzling chemistry between Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea. The fantastic songs and scenic locations have been the talk of the town. With a box office collection of ₹370 million, it was a blockbuster in Feb 2002. The plot was no different from other horror stories. A disloyal husband, a woman seeking revenge, and a wife protecting her husband against her. It was a boost to the actors’ careers, and the movie is still horrifying enough not to be watched alone. This Indian horror movie was everyone’s nightmare in those times.

8. Bhoot- 2003

Ram Gopal Verma experimented with horror again, and this time he established it by giving another blockbuster with Ajay Devgan and Urmilla. She won many awards and accolades for her role in this bone-pinching horror flick. The plot majorly stays the same—a house on rent with a mysterious past and witness killings. The lust of a man kills a woman and her son. When Ajay and Urmilla shift into it, our actress starts getting fishy and behaves like the dead lady. She even commits murder. This entire movie had a simple plot, but the direction makes it one of the best Bollywood horror movies.

9. Darna Mana Hai- 2003

Have they ever heard of a multi-star horror movie? This Indian horror movie is a multi-story. ‘Darna Mana hai’ stands true to their title. In this film, a group of seven people gets stuck in a house. The house is in the woods, and they start telling each other stories to kill some time. However, the real twist comes at the end when the killer is revealed. It is a must-watch and should be on your list of binge-watching weekends. It surely sent some chills underneath our skin. We would say it’s hard not to fear, but as they say,’ Darna Mana Hai.’

10. 1920 – 2008

A magnificent mansion, a newlywed couple, and spirits are seeking revenge. This is set in the era of 1920 and has some beautifully taken shots. The transitions are smooth and an upgrade to all the Bollywood horror movies that we grew up watching. There are several reasons to watch this one of the best horror movies in India. One of them being exorcism portrayed in a surreal way. It is a must to atleast watch it for once. It also makes it to the movie one can watch on their date night. We will be eager to watch what unfolds next to you and how you perceive it.

11. Phoonk – 2008

Have you ever been offered five lakhs to watch a movie? Well! Ram Gopal Verma never fails to sway us. There are a thousand reasons to watch this movie, right from the different storylines to the subject of black magic being thrown some light. As the punchline of the film reads, it is superstitious unless it happens to you. With this movie, he again proved that no one could beat him when it comes to the Horror genre. He has been producing such brilliant pieces for a decade now. One must, however, not watch this movie alone.

12. 13-B – 2009

Spine-tingling is the word that perfectly describes this movie. There are specific ways through which 13 B differs from other Indian Horror Movies. No big mansion, no abandoned home, or spirit is taking revenge. It is critically approved, and accolades earned by fans are undoubtedly the reason that drives you to watch this movie. The sharp script and unexpected direction win the heart of all. The star cast works wonderfully on the camera with their A-class acting skills. One can feel the story being so common that you, too, will fear Televisions. R. Madhavan surely knows how to keep you entertained and hooked.

13. Ragini MMS – 2011

A young couple plans a staycation as a weekend getaway. The couple then visits the boy’s house and ends up in some strange incident. The movie is a perfect example of why not trust everyone. The boy Vishal is in the hideous business of making young, innocent girls fall in love with him and then recording them. But, this time, he falls prey to the spirit haunting the house. Vishal gets killed, and Ragini is found in a questionable and paranormal condition in the house by some random boys. A lot happens in between, and as we know, Balaji Telefilms are the best storytellers.

14. Ek Thi Daayan – 2013

Witches were never portrayed as powerful and never described attractively. This Bollywood horror movie has three strong female leads; Huma Qureshi, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Kalki Koechlin. The witches have been considered Daayan, and this movie showcases a tiff between their world, and dier’s need to have a devil by their side. It is quite an exciting turn of events and no one to trust. Hence, see for yourself who is the devil and who is the actual Daayan. One thing is for sure the amount of entertainment will soothe your desire for a good horror movie.

15. Aatma – 2013

No love is fonder than the mother’s love. This movie depicts how a mother can cross any boundaries for her child. The flick revolves around parental love and how they can be in love yet on the wrong side. A violent domestic father may show his temperament to others but is over-possessive of her daughter. When both the parents decide to separate, and the custody of the daughter is given to her mother, the male lead gets heartache and dies in the car accident. However, things take horrific turns when the spirit of her father enters her body and tries to kill her to reconnect. It is attractive to what extent a mother can go to protect her child.

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16. 3G – 2013

It is not much of a horror to watch this movie. The critics were not in favor of this movie being horrifying. The plot is simple, A 3G sim is possessed, and when Neil Nitin Mukesh inserts the sim into his mobile, the turn of events is all unexplained. The paranormal activities are very hardly picturized. However, the songs are very soothing. Also, Fiji tourism is very happy with the movie (pun intended). The film looks like a problematic attempt to showcase the ghostly presence, but sometimes such horror movies also give a feel of a comedy movie.

17. Raat – 1992

It was a Hindi-Telugu movie by the maestro of Bollywood horror movies- Ram Gopal Verma. A film with lots of twists and turns and unraveling suspicion is genuinely a work of art. This movie is all about revenge. A moll woman was killed brutally in the basement by the old owner of the house. The new family is unaware of the entire situation until the spirit possesses their daughter. There are many events, one after another, that lead to a shocking revelation. One must watch this movie if one wants to have some goosebumps.

18. Pizza – 2014

Have any of your lies come true? Well! The protagonist Kunal cooks up a little lie to fly away with the diamonds of his boss. However, the events take an unfortunate turn when his story becomes true. This is a scary and well-written script. It plays with your mind and makes you think about specific points. It is always good to know that there are people who can think of plots other than a mansion, Ramu’s uncle, and revenge from a past life. Hence, it is advisable to watch this movie if you are looking out for some fresh content.

19. Pari – 2018

Anushka Sharma shows how angels can be troubled and become devils. This supernatural movie is the best so far, and one must watch it for the sake of cinematography and a good storyline. We won’t reveal many details as it is more interesting to watch it for yourself.

20. Horror Story – 2013

This movie saw the rise of actor Karan Kundra. We would like to mention that this is a scarce Indian horror movie with a different plot: no revenge, no past life, and no rebirth. It is entirely different. Seven friends unite to bid farewell to their friend, who is leaving abroad. They decide to spend a night at the abandoned hotel. The legends say that it was once a mental asylum that was destroyed in an unknown fire. Their plan to spend this night becomes horrific, and only one survives. To know more details, go watch out for the movie. You will not be disappointed and crave more.

21. Shaapit – 2010

Love knows no boundaries, and when you stumble upon someone your soulmate, you cross rivers for them. But, in this movie, the protagonist Aman fights an evil spirit. He falls in love with a girl whose family is cursed, and no female in the family gets to enjoy the custom of marriage. The story dates back to the era of kings and queens, where the king forces himself on a lady, and she commits suicide. The exciting thing to look out for in this movie is how he lifts the curse and marries his life’s love. The audience is continuously glued to the screen as the events unfold.

22. Raaz 3- 2012

No materialistic thing lasts, and there is a fragile line between self-love and self-obsession. This movie is living evidence of it. A classic Bhatt movie, it is filled with glamour and the dark side of success. A top actress who cannot handle her competition moves on to the path of black magic. It is quite interesting to see how the strength of love and god is depicted. Black magic has been a subject that is touched from a very different angle. It also shows the inability of evil spirits to be able to take someone’s life.

23. Bhoot Returns – 2012

The second installment of the Bollywood horror movie- Bhoot. But, this had more nail-biting situations. Directed by Vikram Bhatt, it has Manisha Koirala in the leading role. The story, however, ends abruptly according to critics, but the end twist is jaw-dropping. One must-see for themselves. This movie also shows the importance of paying attention to your kids. Parenting lessons are given horrifically, but they are unquestionably valuable.

24. Ragini MMS 2 – 2014

Sunny leone looks cute even as a ghost. This is the second installment of the movie Ragini MMS and starts where the last film ended. All the questions left in the viewer’s mind after the second installment are cleared off in it. The revelations about ghosts are pretty scary. However, the ending leaves audiences thinking that there is more of it. The ratings of the movie were quite mixed, and this will lead to mixed reactions. It is the exact Ekta Kapoor-style movie.

25. Alone – 2015

Your past sins will haunt you forever. The movie stars lovebirds, Karan Singh Grover, and Bipasha Basu. It is a tale of two sisters who were conjoined together. It is very confusing as the entire story revolves around Anjana and Sanjana. Our hero, Kabir, juggles between the sisters as until last, it is not revealed who is whom. The ghost is of which sister is the real twist. We suggest you sit back with a calm mind and dig deep enough into every detail. However, there are a few spine-chilling moments but not enough to creep you out.

26. Stree –  2018

This is an Indian horror movie you are going to enjoy a lot. The fresh pairing of Shradha Kapoor and Rajkumar Rao will surely impress you. This is another excellent acting work done by Rajkumar. The tale is of a small town, Chanderi. The ghost of a woman haunts this town. It is believed that during the festivities of Durga pooja, this witch comes and abducts men at night and leaves only their clothes behind. It is also a satire on our society where women are often perceived as objects of sexual desire. The ghost-like any other Indian woman seeks to respect and love.

27. Tumbbad – 2018

Greed will land you in danger. This is a scary and critically acclaimed movie. The cinematography and directions are no less than the Hollywood level. If you want a Bollywood horror movie to satiate your desire for terrifying chills, then this is it. Mythology is at its best, and the storyline is very impressive. The story revolves around the goddess who gave birth to all the gods and goddesses. Her first and favorite son Hastar, forgotten by the entire world, is still residing in her womb. Her womb is located in Tumbbad.

28. The House Next Door – 2017

Originally in Tamil, this movie is also named Aval. It is a supernatural movie based on good spirits vs. Bad spirits. In Between, this war lies humans. Just like any Indian horror movie, it too has a ghost seeking revenge. However, it is the learned man who falls prey to it. It is a must-watch, and Tollywood has always been famous for its decent work with visuals and storylines.

29. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 – 2022

The latest name in the Hindi horror movie list is none other than the 2022 released film ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’. This comedy horror movie is a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa part 1 (2007). The storyline of the movie revolves around Ruhaan Randhawa character played by Kartik Aryan who shows that he is a psychic and knows the way to deal with the spirit of Manjulika, an evil-minded spirit looking to take vengeance against the Thakur family. It is one of the best Hindi horror movies of 2022 and also features some famous superstars like Tabu and Kiara Advani.

30. Laxmii – 2020

One can’t forget the movie ‘Laxmii’ if talking about the best Hindi horror movies in 2022. It is a remake of the 2011 Tamil film ‘Kanchana’. Popular actors like Akshay Kumar, and Kiara Advani played the lead roles in the movie. The plot of this film tells about a person who gets taken over by the spirit of a transgender.

31. Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship – 2020

Another name in the best horror Bollywood movies 2022 list is Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship. The film stars some amazing actors like Bhumi Pednekar and Vicky Kaushal. The movie begins with an amazing plot that actually nobody has ever watched in Indian cinemas earlier. Sea-bird – the ship comes at Mumbai Juhu Beach. A grieving shipping officer finds the secret behind a ghost ship that comes ashore in Mumbai.

Conclusion

We have learned from our Indian horror movies that we should not trust anyone, and if someone tells us not to go to a haunted house, then we must not go. It’s life above thrill. Believe in ghosts and supernatural powers. Also, we have curated these Indian horror movies list for you. So are you gutsy enough to binge-watch these 31 Bollywood horror movies? If you do so, then do let us know in the comments how you felt.