Not Tamannaah? Nargis Fakhri to Romance Aayush Sharma in Ektaa Kapoor’s ‘Ragini 3’

Ektaa Kapoor, the maven of making headlines, is back at it. The third chapter of her notorious supernatural horror-thriller franchise, Ragini 3, is currently assembling what might be the most eclectic ensemble of the year.

The latest buzz confirms that Aayush Sharma-actor and brother-in-law to Salman Khan-has officially joined the fray. He joins a high-profile lineup that already includes Tamannaah Bhatia, Nargis Fakhri, and Junaid Khan. While the franchise originally shot to fame in 2011 with the Sunny Leone-starrer Ragini MMS, this third instalment is shaping up to be a very different beast.

A Romantic Shake-up

Initially, industry whispers suggested a complex love triangle, with Tamannaah Bhatia's character caught between Aayush Sharma and Junaid Khan, while Nargis Fakhri was tipped to play a straightforward police officer. However, new updates from have debunked that theory. It turns out that Nargis Fakhri will be paired opposite Aayush Sharma. This fresh on-screen pairing, combined with Fakhri donning a khaki uniform, adds a gritty new layer to the film's appeal, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

From Erotica to "Date Night Horror"

Perhaps the most significant shift is the film's tonal pivot. Historically, the Ragini series was synonymous with a "horror-erotic" formula. Kapoor is now steering the ship away from that legacy, rebranding Ragini 3 as a high-concept supernatural thriller.

The goal? To create a "date night horror" experience. This new direction prioritises:

Atmospheric Suspense: Building tension over jump scares.

Witty Humour: Balancing the macabre with levity.

Supernatural Depth: Moving towards more complex, "high-concept" themes.

This pivot signals a calculated move to capture a mainstream audience that prefers edge-of-the-seat chills over the franchise's previous adult-oriented reputation.Atmospheric Suspense: Building tension over jump scares.

Witty Humour: Balancing the macabre with levity.

Supernatural Depth: Moving towards more complex, "high-concept" themes.

This pivot signals a calculated move to capture a mainstream audience that prefers edge-of-the-seat chills over the franchise's previous adult-oriented reputation.

The director's chair has also seen a significant change. While Pavan Kirpalani and Bhushan Patel led the first two films, Shashanka Ghosh is now at the helm. Known for stylish, commercially successful hits like Khoobsurat (2014) and Veere Di Wedding (2018), Ghosh's involvement suggests a more polished, contemporary aesthetic.

The production faced an early hurdle when the original director, Sahir Raza, parted ways with the project. However, with Ghosh now leading the charge, the film is officially back on track.

Timeline to Terror
Fans will have to wait a while for the final product. Ragini 3 is scheduled to go on floors this July 2026, with a planned theatrical release in 2027. Between the unexpected casting and the ambitious genre shift, Ektaa Kapoor seems poised to redefine Indian horror once again.