Why cinema prefers spooky bhootnis over humble bhooths on the silver screen

Nayyi Navelli brides draped in haunting red, ethereal spectres floating in slow motion, and fierce supernatural ladies serving revenge with immaculate blow-drys — Hindi cinema’s love affair with the female phantom is as ancient as popcorn itself. While male ghosts are practically an endangered species on screen (or usually reduced to clumsy comic relief), female spirits run the Indian supernatural show. From vintage spine-chillers like Raaz and Haunted 3D to atmospheric thrillers like Bulbbul, timeless horror-comedies like Bhool Bhulaiyaa, romantic spectral tales like Phillauri, and box-office monsters like Stree and Phone Bhoot, silver screens consistently give the bhootni top billing over the humble bhooth.On Cinematic Saturday, as Yami Gautam's Nayyi Navelli releases on October 16, we unpack why Bollywood — and global pop culture — is endlessly obsessed with female ghosts, witches, and supernatural women. Grab your popcorn as we break down the wild mix of gender dynamics, village folklore, trade logic, and pure screen glamour that powers this spooky phenomenon.Cross-cultural psyche and fear factorLong before digital VFX made ghost-flying a multiplex spectacle, society had a rather dramatic way of handling women who didn't follow the rules. Have unbridled ambition, a loud laugh, or simply refuse to marry who you're told? Congratulations, folklore just labelled you a chudail!Noted filmmaker and writer Sanjay Chhel, who has written dialogues and story for more than 35 films, chuckles at this deep-seated cultural conditioning.Chhel, known for his work in films like Rangeela (1995), Yes Boss (1997), Partner (2007) and Indu Sarkar (2017) among others, says, "Because they always feel that female is a suffering kind of soul, and it is connected to mythology where Chudail comes. Also, there is a kind of ritual in the village where a certain woman is a Chudail, and they label her. So this is deep-rooted in our culture."Global pop culture plays the exact same game. When the guys assemble to save the galaxy, they get cool titles like the Avengers. But the second, a woman wields cosmic, chaotic magic? Boom — she's the Scarlet Witch. Cinema took this ancient cultural anxiety and turned it into the ultimate entertainment formula.Victims of injustice to agents of retributionHere is the fun plot twist: Bollywood didn't just inherit the female ghost trope; it gave her a total makeover and a microphone. A male ghost in an Indian movie is usually a generic demon with terrible prosthetics or an awkward guy stuck in limbo. But a female ghost? She gets a full dramatic backstory, emotional complexity, and a solid reason to wreak havoc!Renowned trade analyst and producer Girish Johar explains the box-office and narrative genius behind this, saying, "When there is a female-led bhoot or ghost, by our DNA, we all know that at the end of the day, female is the divine Shakti or the divine power, and is the epitome of love, affection, and warmth. So, if a certain character is derived as a negative character, there is a depth to it because we believe a wrong must have been done to her.""No one is negative by choice; when you reveal the actual reason behind them turning grey, audiences feel that connection," he adds.In Anvita Dutt’s Bulbbul, starring Triptii Dimri, the eerie forest vibes hide a sharp take on domestic abuse, turning the ghoul into an empowering symbol of female rage. Meanwhile, in Stree, the male gaze gets hilarious, literal karma as men are forced to stay indoors after dark, desperately painting "O Stree, kal aana" on their front walls. Talk about flipping the script!Whether it is the tragic haunting in Raaz, the immersive 3D jumps in Haunted 3D, or the goofy ghost-hunting antics in Phone Bhoot, female spirits are the ultimate rebels — refusing to stay quiet, even in the afterlife.Glamour and the unsettling gazeLet’s be honest: Bollywood’s bhootnis are easily the most stylish entities in cinema history. While Western horror loves to cover its ghosts in slime, rot, and terrifying makeup, Indian cinema insists that its female spectres stay absolute divas.We are talking wind-machine hair, flowing saris, and kohl-rimmed eyes that can intimidate you from across the room. As Sanjay Chhel points out with a laugh: "The moment there is a male ghost, the face becomes deformed, satanic, which is not very viewer-friendly. Whereas the girl in a white sari or with the open hair and the tortured soul crying gives a kind of instant connection, because the woman is suffering in society. That helplessness is more identifiable than a man in a patriarchal society."Whether it’s Anushka Sharma floating around looking utterly angelic in Phillauri or Vidya Balan delivering her iconic, table-smashing performance as Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, these spectral leading ladies prove that horror and high drama make the best cocktail.Escapism, box office and the evolving audienceFrom a trade perspective, backing a bhootni isn't just creative — it's brilliant business. Girish Johar highlights how female-led supernatural films bring everyone to the theatres, adding, "If you are giving a female-led story, you can target a wider section of the audience — not only men, but women also. Men mostly get action, brawny roles, whereas female supernatural characters with comedy and drama allow you to target a larger section of families and youth."In an era where streaming fatigue is real and routine romances are snoozefests, audiences want instant adrenaline. As Chhel sums it up, saying, "This fear-selling factory is constant across generations. Sometimes you call it an alien, sometimes a ghost, sometimes supernatural. The packaging changes, but the core human emotion — fear of the unknown — remains."The final hauntingAt the end of the day, cinema’s obsession with the bhootni isn't slowing down anytime soon. While male action stars spend two hours punching bad guys in formulaic thrillers, the female ghost gets to float through walls, shatter societal rules, scare the living daylights out of everyone, and look effortlessly iconic while doing it.So the next time a spectral diva glides across your movie screen, don't just brace for the jump scare — give her a hand. After all, running the supernatural world is hard work, and nobody does it with more flair than Bollywood’s favourite bhootnis!- Ends