When it comes to a specific genre of movies that are loved equally by teens as well as adults, Horror is the one that outshines others with quite a considerable margin. Bollywood has a history of countless horror classics. Kamal Amrohi’s Mahal which was released in 1949, is the first real horror movie launched by the India Film Industry. Starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala in the leading roles, Mahal built the way for what we now know as a multi-crore Bollywood Horror genre.
From this up till now, different directors have presented a variety of horror themes. Whether it be Shyam Ramsay or Ram Gopal Verma, we have come across a lot of creaking doors and some monsters, made of such a lousy CGI that we wanted to throw up from time to time. But, apart from a large part of horror movies, which ironically are more comical than the contrasting genre, there are some gems that keep the craving of Horror film connoisseurs in check.
So, today, we are going to go through a list of 15 Bollywood Horror Movies that are scary and live up the reputation of their genre. These movies are full of screams, and Goosebumps will be your constant companion. So, make sure not to watch these alone (Especially when the lights are out)
1. 1920 (2008)
This movie is directed by horror genre genius Vikram Bhatt. The plot of the film revolves around a married couple who is living in a haunted house. The movie is set in the year 1920. This movie offers its fair share of sheer artistic finesse. Some Hollywood horror fans claim that this film is somewhat loosely inspired by the 1973 Horror – The Exorcist.

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2. Ragini MMS (2011)
Undoubtedly, one of the most controversial horror movies you will ever find in Bollywood. Produced by Ekta Kapoor and Directed by Pawan Kripalani, this Supernatural Horror film was a massive success of its time. This is one of the very few films that offer us a taste of Footage based movies. The plot provides a story of a young couple and how a night in a motel room changes their life. The film also conveys a great social message of how girls should keep a safe distance from falling into the trap of negative influences.

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3. Mahal (1949)
The movie, which is considered as the Indian cinema’s first horror film Mahal sets the stand of fear and creeps too high for the later ones to catch up. The plot of this movie revolves around the concept of reincarnation. And, trust me, this movie will scare the f*ck out of you, just like it did to the two generations before us. This movie will make you fall in love with the minimal usage of effects and a complete treat of astounding cinematography.

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4. Horror Story (2013)
Horror Story is one of Vikram Bhatt’s best horror works to date. Horror Story carries a plot about a group of seven friends, a farewell party and a haunted hotel. The premise which was once used as a mental asylum, and now famous as a haunted land, is visited by these friends, the occasion being the celebration of one of their friend’s farewell. And, things start to skew heavily in the you-know-what direction. Some of the visuals in this movie are so graphic that I can bet you will be off your seats in chills.

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5. Ek Thi Daayan (2013)
Paranormal thrillers and Out-and-Out Horror have a pretty big fan base. Ek Thi Dayan pleases both of the fractions completely. The storyline brings in the eerie essence of the thought of Daayans being present in our society. The flow of this movie has the same impact as the texture of scotch in your mouth. This blend of a taut storyline and amazing actors will spook you for many nights.

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6. Darna Mana Hai (2003)
Ram Gopal Verma knows how to present even an article such as Apple, evil. This movie offers a scary CGI work, and the script is too fantastic to get over it. It packs a combination of 6 short stories in one big chunk and each one of these stories is a gem in their own manner.

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7. Phoonk (2008)
I remember once I was talking about horror movies with my friend who is a big-time Horror movie enthusiast, and she said that Everyone thinks its superstition until it happens to them. Phoonk is one such movie that does justice with the above-mentioned statement beyond perfection. This Black Magic themed movie was so scary that RGV himself offered a reward of Rs. 5 Lakh to anyone who can watch the entire film alone in the theatre in one go. And, to sum this one up, nobody won.

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8. Raat (1992)
The ’90s was an era when every genre of Bollywood presented the best of itself. Raat, which is considered as Ram Gopal Verma’s most exceptional work, ever defined horror for the decade of its release. The movie is finely paced and the best part about it is that the cinematic and plot don’t go over the top. The plot is about a kitten that is killed and that event sets a chain of events into motion scary enough to give you chills.

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9. Raaz (2002)
For the Bipasha Basu’s horror movie admirers, Raaz is considered as the best horror can get. The movie is impressive in every aspect, from the background score to the story’s pace. This movie is inspired by What Lies Beneath starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

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10. 13 B (2009)
13 B is one of the horror movies that depend heavily on its strong script rather than cringe-worthy background scores and over the top camera angles. It is a perfect movie for a person who loves slow-paced plot as it will leave spine-tingling chills.

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So, these were the 10 Best Bollywood Horror movies that are a must-watch BUT not alone. Each one of them has a unique plot and I made sure that no two films follow the same outline. On that note, here are the two of my personal favorites which you should definitely have one your watch list as well. Also, do tell me about your favorite Bollywood Horror in the comments and make sure to share this list with your friends.
Bees Saal Baad (1962)
This one is somewhat classic and is very close to my heart. Bees Saal Baad is a psychological thriller which is inspired by a Bengali superhit horror, Jighansa, which again is loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles which is a classic Sherlock Holmes novel (A must-read). This movie haunted people for many years and its famous phrase ‘Kahin Deep Jale, Kahin Dil’ still sparks shivers in many.

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Shaapit (2010)
This one is the third and the last part of the Raaz Trilogy and certainly the best of the bunch. The essence of eeriness is present in this movie from the very beginning till the end. The song ‘Kabhi Na Kabhi’ was so popular among masses that it broke records. The plot follows the lead of curses and evil spirits and offers a perfect blend of spookiness.

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