MUMBAI: As the anticipation builds for Prime Video's spine-chilling horror series Khauf, actress Chum Darang opens up about her compelling character, Svetlana. Hailing from a small town, Svetlana arrives with fierce determination to chase her dreams. "I connected with her instantly," she shares. "She’s a fighter and a girl's girl, and I believe many people will resonate with her journey."
This project marks her debut in the horror genre, and her preparation was anything but typical. "Horror is my favorite genre, so I immersed myself in it—watched everything I could find," she chimes. However, the challenges were daunting. "I had to scream my lungs out, which gave me migraines. There were days I shot with a fever, and I even bled during one scene! I literally put my blood and sweat into this." Despite the obstacles, she embraces the experience and is excited to explore this new side of her acting repertoire.
Working alongside critically acclaimed talents like Rajat Kapoor, Geetanjali Kulkarni, and Shilpa Shukla was a dream come true for her. "I feel lucky to share the screen with such amazing actors. There's never a dull moment, and I'm a huge fan of Rajat Kapoor," she enthuses. The camaraderie on set became an essential part of overcoming the difficulties, especially during the challenging climax scenes. "Teamwork was everything," she emphasizes. "A big shout out to the entire cast and crew of ‘Khauf’—I can’t wait for the world to see what we created together." Her choice to join Khauf was clear: passion for the genre. "As an actor, you should always be open to new ideas, and this is something I truly love," she states. As she embarks on her second collaboration with Prime Video, her excitement is infectious. “I hope there will be many more in the future!” she exclaims.
One of the series’ eerie standout moments features Svetlana in a suspenseful scene where she attempts to leave her hostel, only to feel something pulling her back. "Scenes like that, dependent on CGI and green screens, were completely new territory for me," she acknowledges. "But it's my duty as an actor to bring those moments to life, and the directors guided us wonderfully through the process." When asked about the key takeaway for audiences, she remarks, "Khauf is a part of life; you can’t run from it. It's about how you deal with life’s ups and downs that truly matters."
With an engaging character at the forefront, a talented cast, and an immersive story to tell, Khauf promises to deliver a hauntingly thrilling experience that audiences won’t soon forget. Marking Smita Singh’s debut as a creator and showrunner, Khauf is executive-produced by Sanjay Routray and Sarita Patil under the Matchbox Shots banner. Directed by Pankaj Kumar and Surya Balakrishnan, the series boasts a stellar ensemble cast featuring Monika Panwar, Abhishek Chauhan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, and Shilpa Shukla in key roles. Khauf will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and across 240+ countries and territories on April 18.
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