📌 Key Points
- Rohan Shankar describes 2025 as a hectic year filled with travel while working on ‘Bhooth Bangla’.
- He collaborated with Priyadarshan and Abhilash Nair, calling the process collaborative and creatively satisfying.
- While some improvisation occurred, Priyadarshan had the final say on what worked best for the film.
- ‘Bhooth Bangla’ features an ensemble cast including Asrani, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, and Tabu.
Rohan Shankar reflects on his experience writing for Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhooth Bangla,’ revealing a collaborative environment where improvisation played a role, albeit under the director’s watchful eye. The film boasts a stellar cast and released on April 17.
Rohan Shankar’s Experience Writing for Priyadarshan
Writer Rohan Shankar is having a relaxing year after a hectic 2025 on the sets of Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan. “It was a lot of travel and constant movement,” he tells Hindustan Times in a chat. “2026 has been quite the opposite, in a good way. It’s been calmer and grounded after a year of chaos,” adds Rohan as he settles down for a chat about his writing career, his latest film Bhooth Bangla, its comparisons to Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and more.
Improvisation on the Set of Bhooth Bangla
Working with Priyadarshan on Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan now is a dream come true, he says. “After Mimi, I pitched Priyadarshan sir a bound script. He liked it and that same night, asked if I was interested in writing his next two films. I didn’t think twice; it was a surreal moment,” he explains. And thus began the writing process with Priyadarshan and writer Abhilash Nair. “The process was very collaborative and creatively satisfying…like a constant workshop where the film keeps evolving till the last day,” he says.
Bhooth Bangla: Comparisons to Bhool Bhulaiyaa
Bhooth Bangla also stars other Priyadarshan favourites Asrani, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Manoj Joshi and Tabu , along with Wamiqa Gabbi, Mithila Palkar, Jisshu Sengupta and others. The writer says there was scope for improvisation on set, even if the filmmaker always had the last word. “There was some improvisation, but not too much. Ultimately, Priyan Sir decides what works and what stays. He is very clear about what he wants,” he says, adding, “With him, writing doesn’t stop on paper. On set, we keep adding new moments and dialogues.” Bhooth Bangla released in theatres on April 17.
Rohan Shankar’s insights reveal a dynamic filmmaking process, highlighting Priyadarshan’s clear vision and the collaborative spirit that shaped ‘Bhooth Bangla.’ The film blends improvisation with a well-defined script.
