Chetna Pande on Life After Haunted 3D: "I'm More Interested in Stories Than Glamour"

Riding high on the success of Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past, actress Chetna Pande is already setting her sights on what's next - and she's making it clear she doesn't intend to be boxed in by genre, image, or glamour.

Speaking about the kind of roles she wants to pursue going forward, Pande said she has no plans to confine herself to horror, despite the film's success teaching her how powerful the genre can be.

"At this stage of my career, I don't want to limit myself to any one genre. Of course, I would love to continue doing horror because this film has shown me how powerful and emotionally demanding the genre can be. But as an actor, my biggest dream is to constantly surprise myself and my audience," she said.

For Pande, the real pull lies in characters that demand something of her - emotionally, physically, mentally - rather than projects chosen for their surface appeal. "I want to play characters that challenge me emotionally, physically and mentally. Whether it's a strong commercial entertainer, an intense drama, a thriller, a biopic or even a completely unconventional role, what excites me is a character that leaves an impact," she explained.

In an industry where glamour often steals the spotlight, her priorities run in a different direction. "More than screen time, I'm interested in meaningful roles. More than glamour, I'm interested in stories. I want every project to push me beyond what I've already done because that's the only way I believe an actor truly grows," she said.

That same grounded perspective extends to how she's responding to the film's success - with reflection rather than outright celebration. "Honestly, I'm still processing everything. When you spend so much time working on a film, facing uncertainties and hoping audiences will accept it, you don't immediately realise what's happening when the success finally arrives," she admitted.

If anything, gratitude has outweighed celebration in the days since. "The last few days have been filled with gratitude more than celebration. Of course, I've spoken to my family, my friends and the people who stood by me throughout this journey. Seeing them happy is probably the biggest celebration for me," she said.

She added that the moment also comes with a sense of responsibility. "I don't want to become complacent or get carried away by the numbers. I want this success to motivate me to work harder and make better choices going forward. So yes, I'm celebrating, but more than celebrating, I'm feeling thankful. Thankful to the audience, thankful to Vikram Sir, Anand Sir, my entire team and everyone who believed in me and in Sunheri. This is only the beginning, and I'm excited for everything that's still ahead," Chetna signed off.