Mahesh Bhatt will NEVER direct again, confirms ‘Haunted 3D’ director Vikram Bhatt: ‘No chance; he’s done’

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt confirmed that his mentor Mahesh Bhatt has permanently stepped away from directing, revealing that the veteran’s return for ‘Sadak 2’ was a one-time exception driven by a personal promise, not a sign of things to come.

Why Mahesh Bhatt came back for ‘Sadak 2’

Speaking to News18, Vikram Bhatt was unequivocal about Mahesh Bhatt’s directorial future. “No chance! He’s done,” he said. The veteran director had originally declared ‘Kartoos’ (1999) his final film as a director before returning 21 years later to helm ‘Sadak 2’, starring his daughters Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt.Vikram Bhatt offered insight into what prompted that unexpected comeback. “I think, it is a promise that he had made to Mukesh Bhatt. He had said that he would direct only if somebody else directs,” he said. He added, “I’ve never spoken to him about this, but the impression I’ve got is that he took up the reins when there was a need for it.”

Mahesh Bhatt continues to write and produce

While the director’s chair is firmly behind him, Mahesh Bhatt has remained an active force in the industry as a writer and producer. Over the years, he has penned stories for several of Vikram Bhatt’s films, including ‘Kasoor’, ‘Raaz’, ‘Inteha’, ‘Judaa Hoke Bhi’, and ‘Bloody Ishq’.Vikram Bhatt credited his mentor’s restless energy for keeping him so prolific. He shared, “He works because he’s an extremely active person. He has got nothing else on his mind and he can work 24 hours a day. So he does this but it’s not something that elevates his soul or he needs it for survival. He’s past all that. He doesn’t need anything.”

Vikram Bhatt talks about Mahesh Bhatt’s sense of humor

Their longstanding creative partnership has almost exclusively produced horror films and thrillers. Asked why they have never ventured into lighter territory, Vikram Bhatt was candid. He said, “Boss, as I call him, is too intense for a comedy. I don’t think he thinks comedy. But he has a very good sense of humour. And he has made some nice ones like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Duplicate, but his go-to emotion is neither comedy nor horror.“Vikram also spoke warmly about Mahesh’s collaborative spirit. He added, “He’s always lending support to my thoughts. He’s not trying to lead my thoughts to his thoughts, which is fabulous.”

Vikram Bhatt’s ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’

Vikram Bhatt’s latest directorial, ‘Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past’, starring Mahakashay Chakraborty, released in cinemas on June 12, 2026. Despite mixed critical reception, the film crossed Rs 15 crore at the box office.