Raaz 3 2012

Shanaya Shekhar, a once-celebrated actress now on the decline, stands at the heart of a story about jealousy, ambition, and the dark corners of Indian society. The film opens with her laughing at her reflection in a mirror, only to shatter it in a furious act that hints at a deeper unraveling to come. The narrative then travels back in time to trace how passion, fame, and a toxic longing for control ripple through lives, tearing at the fabric of marriages and careers alike.

In flashback, Shanaya Shekhar is a glamorous figure on a film set, cherished by colleagues and especially favored by the director and her lover, Aditya Arora. She rides a wave of acclaim, with nominations and Filmfare wins cementing her status. Yet her personal life grows fragile as she craves a deeper bond with [Aditya Arora], who, while supportive, remains focused on his own dreams of directing a hit film. Into this delicate balance enters Sanjana Dhanraj, a younger, aspiring actress who begs for a chance and is ultimately offered the lead in Aditya’s project. The film’s success catapults Sanjana Dhanraj to stardom, drawing the limelight away from Shanaya and leaving her increasingly insecure and jealous.

As Sanjana’s star rises, Shanaya’s envy blossoms into a painful obsession. Shanaya abandons acting and resolves to win Aditya by any means, despite the risk of destroying the life they could have. The relationship strain deepens when Shanaya’s heartbreakful pursuit culminates in a confrontation that ends with her being slapped by Aditya after she creates a disturbance. In the depths of despair, Shanaya turns to her uncle, a tantrik known as Tantrik. He introduces her to dark powers, and she invokes a malevolent force to torment Sanjana, calling upon the memory of a spectral presence—the ghost of Tara—to wreak havoc on the younger actress’s life. The goal is devastating: make Sanjana fear for her sanity, even to the point of contemplating suicide.

To counter this, Doctor and his circle step in. Aditya seeks help from a healer who understands the tremors of black magic and resort to a ritualistic approach to reclaim Sanjana from the grip of the curse. The supernatural conflict intensifies as the ghost closes in on Sanjana, pushing her toward the edge. The tone of fear and betrayal deepens when a locket is used by Aditya to provoke the phantom, challenging the ghost with truths about past lives and present betrayals. The spirit falters, vanishes, and in a twist of fate, possesses Shanaya, turning the tables on the former lover who sought vengeance.

The film then returns to the present, where Shanaya’s fate mirrors her earlier despair. Yet the story places a heavier burden on Aditya: he confesses that his earlier alliance with Shanaya—driven by sexual desire and a desire to keep his own career afloat—led him into morally gray territory. His loyalties become tangled as he grows closer to Sanjana, a bond he begins to cherish even as the history between him and Shanaya continues to haunt him. Confronted with the consequences of his choices, Aditya reveals the truth to Sanjana and seeks a path to healing her from the curse. The plan unfolds under the Doctor’s guidance, with a Witchcraft Doctor providing the arcane instructions to “kill the soul” and restore Sanjana to life from the dream world, a process that culminates in a climactic struggle between Aditya and the supernatural forces at play.

Throughout, the movie casts a sharp eye on the pressures of success in Indian society, where a single professional setback can spark personal and magical responses that ripple through marriages, careers, and reputations. The characters are caught in a cyclical game of ambition and revenge, where love and power become entangled with fear, secrecy, and a belief in forces beyond the ordinary.

The ending reframes the story as a meditation on accountability. Aditya’s journey from complicity to protection—recognizing the harm he helped unleash and choosing to stand with Sanjana to break the curse—offers a somber reminder: even in a world ruled by fame and fortune, the human heart remains the ultimate battleground. The film closes on a note that invites reflection on whether true healing can come from facing one’s own mistakes, confronting the consequences, and choosing a path of honesty and courage over the seductive pull of success and vindictive magic.