"Life Was Preparing Me for Sunheri During My Darkest Phase": Chetna Pande Opens Up

For Chetna Pande, stepping into the role of Sunheri in Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past turned out to be far more than a professional milestone - it became a deeply personal reckoning. The actress reveals that she shot the film while navigating one of the toughest emotional periods of her life, and that experience ended up shaping her performance in ways she never anticipated.

"I honestly feel life prepared me for this role more than anything else," Chetna says. "When I started shooting, I was emotionally shattered and mentally disturbed. Looking back, I believe everything happens for a reason. Sometimes life puts you through hardship because it's preparing you for something meaningful - even if you don't realise it in the moment."

Rather than fighting against her emotional state, Chetna let it bleed into her craft. "My own journey reflected Sunheri's journey in many ways. I didn't have to search for emotions - I was living them every day. I simply drew from what I was going through and channelled that pain into the character. Whatever I felt inside became part of Sunheri's story, and that's what made the performance feel honest to me."

As for why she signed on to the project in the first place, Chetna says one name made the decision easy: Vikram Bhatt. "The moment I heard he was directing, I was excited. He's one of the biggest names in Indian horror cinema and has made films audiences still remember. He brought a distinct style to horror, and the original Haunted became a landmark - people still talk about its music and story. That kind of lasting impact is rare."

She also reflected on how difficult it has become for films to leave a lasting impression in today's scroll-fast culture. "People's attention spans are so short now that many can't even finish a short video. So when a film stays in people's hearts for years, that's something truly special - it only happens when a story genuinely connects. I think that's the magic Haunted created, and why people still remember it with so much love."