Riteish Deshmukh, known for his versatile roles, is set to enthral the audience with a new avatar as a ghost hunter in the upcoming film ‘Kakuda.’ Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, ‘Kakuda’ is set in the village of Ratodi in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district. Riteish recently shared what intrigued him about the script and his experience working on this unique project.
The Appeal of the Script
Discussing his initial thoughts after reading the script, Riteish said, “The horror-comedy genre has always intrigued me, and when I heard the script, I was drawn to it. Playing a ghost hunter in a fun, quirky setting really appealed to me. ‘Kakuda’ has a great blend of humour with unexpected twists. Working with a talented and enthusiastic cast and crew made the experience even better. Bringing this character to life and being part of a film that promises to entertain and surprise viewers was irresistible. I knew right away that I wanted to be part of ‘Kakuda’ and dive into the spooky world with complete excitement and enthusiasm.”
Balancing Comedy and Horror
Riteish highlighted the challenges of balancing the comedy and horror elements in the film. “Mixing comedy with horror increases the challenges. Both genres require precise timing, but in very different ways. Comedy relies on punchlines and quick wit, while horror depends on building tension and delivering scares. Balancing these elements, so one doesn’t overshadow the other, is a delicate task. However, that’s what makes it so much fun and exciting. It’s about finding the right moments to inject humour without losing the essence of horror, and vice versa. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to experiment with new forms of storytelling.”
The Unique Plot of ‘Kakuda’
The official synopsis of ‘Kakuda’ describes a village under a peculiar curse. “While Ratodi seems like any other village, it isn’t because of the curse inflicted upon it for years. Every house in the district has two similar-looking doors: one normal-sized and one smaller. The film revolves around a peculiar ritual that demands the opening of the smaller door of each house every Tuesday at 7:15 pm sharp. Failure to comply invites the wrath of Kakuda, who punishes the man of the house. But who is Kakuda? Why does he punish the men in the village? How will the villagers get rid of the curse? Beware! Ab Mard Khatre Me Hai!”
Playing a Modern Ghost Hunter
Speaking about his character, Riteish shared, “Playing the character of a quirky and modern ghost hunter was absolutely amazing. What fascinated me the most was the unique blend of humour and modernity in his approach to ghost hunting. Unlike the traditional ways we often see, my character brought a fresh, contemporary twist to the role, using modern gadgets and a witty personality to tackle the supernatural.”
Star-Studded Cast
The film also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Saqib Saleem. ‘Kakuda’ will be available on ZEE5 starting July 12, promising viewers a thrilling mix of scares and laughs.
