Shaitaan (2024)

Shaitaan 2024: a chiller built on one uninvited guest

Shaitaan 2024 is a Hindi supernatural horror thriller directed by Vikas Bahl, best known before this for lighter, character-driven dramas, which makes the genre switch one of the first things worth noticing. The film was released in cinemas on 8 March 2024 and runs about 132 minutes, according to its Wikipedia entry.

It is reported to be a Hindi remake of the Gujarati film Vash from 2023, with the climax rewritten for this version. That background tells you what kind of story to expect: a compact, home-bound scare where the threat is a person rather than a monster stalking a haunted mansion.

The setup is simple. A chartered accountant from Dehradun, Kabir Rishi, takes his wife and two children to a remote farmhouse. A stranger named Vanraj turns up stranded, wins the family's trust and gets let inside. Everything beyond that is better left unexplored before you watch.

Cast and crew

Ajay Devgn plays Kabir, R. Madhavan plays Vanraj, and Jyothika plays Jyoti, the mother. Janki Bodiwala and Anngad Raaj play the two children. The screenplay is credited to Aamil Keeyan Khan, with the story credited to Krishnadev Yagnik.

The film is produced by Devgn Films, Jio Studios and Panorama Studios. A cast built around a hands-on father, a worried mother and an outwardly polite intruder is a good fit for a contained thriller, since most of the tension depends on small shifts in tone rather than large set pieces. We have not watched the film, so we are not judging individual performances.

Release date and where to watch

The theatrical release was on 8 March 2024, timed with Maha Shivaratri. For streaming, Netflix is reported to hold the digital rights and the film arrived there in early May 2024; sources differ on the exact day, so check the platform for current availability in your region.

A follow-up, Shaitaan 2, has been reported as being in development, but treat that as unconfirmed until the makers announce details.

What to expect

Expect a slow-tightening domestic thriller rather than a jump-scare marathon. Viewers who liked films where an ordinary home slowly becomes unsafe will find the premise familiar, and those who know Vash may be curious how this Hindi version handles its altered ending. It is best approached as a psychological chiller with a supernatural edge, and viewers sensitive to scenes of children in danger should be careful.