Chetna Pande is discussing one of Bollywood's most emotionally demanding roles — and speaking candidly about the experience.
The actress, who plays Sunheri in Vikram Bhatt's Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past, has revealed that several scenes from the shoot left lasting emotional impacts. "Some of the scenes in Haunted 3D pushed me completely out of my comfort zone," she said in an exclusive interview.
The role required her to explore Sunheri's trauma-laden journey. "When I first read the script, I knew Sunheri's journey was emotionally intense. She goes through trauma, fear, vulnerability, and immense suffering," Pande explained. "To portray that honestly, I couldn't just perform those scenes mechanically; I had to emotionally step into her world."
One sequence affected her particularly deeply. Pande recalled a moment where her character experiences violation. "There were moments during the shoot that were genuinely disturbing because I was so immersed in Sunheri's reality," she said. "I remember a particular sequence where the character is violated in a deeply unsettling way, and for the first time, I truly understood the discomfort, helplessness, and fear that so many women experience when their boundaries are crossed."
Pande credits director Vikram Bhatt with creating a safe, respectful environment. "What made the experience manageable was the environment Vikram Sir created. He approached every difficult scene with tremendous sensitivity, maturity, and respect," she shared.
The production restricted access during sensitive sequences. Only essential crew members were present during the most difficult scenes. "As an actor, that sense of safety and trust is incredibly important," Pande said. "I always felt protected, respected, and supported."
Pande delivered a demanding performance with a production team committed to responsible practices.
