'Nikita Roy' Review: A Haunting That Hides in Plain Sight & Works Wonders

Director -Kussh Sinha

Cast - Sonakshi Sinha, Paresh Rawal, Arjun Rampal, Suhail Nayyar

Duration – 116 Minutes

Rating: 3.5/5

Bollywood doesn’t often embrace the supernatural thriller with a serious gaze. When it does, the results are usually overrun with gimmicks or melodrama. Nikita Roy, directed by Kussh Sinha in his feature debut, takes a different path. It’s a story where ghosts are less about the paranormal and more about grief, memory, and the unspoken darkness that lives under cultural norms. Set against the backdrop of a mystery in modern-day London, the film unfolds at its own pace, slipping between horror and personal reckoning.

A Rationalist Thrust Into the Irrational

The story revolves around Nikita Roy, a rationalist writer who leads a group dedicated to debunking spiritual frauds. When her brother suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances in London, she is pulled into an investigation that quickly blurs the line between logic and belief. Sonakshi Sinha plays Nikita with a quiet interiority, suggesting control while subtly revealing layers of conflict and vulnerability. The character’s skepticism becomes a tool and an obstacle as she confronts events that defy easy explanation.

The narrative unfolds slowly but deliberately. It avoids the pitfall of immediate jump scares or cheap thrills. Instead, the mystery thickens gradually. When Nikita begins retracing her brother’s final days, she encounters people and places tied to spiritual practices. Each interaction adds a new texture to the unfolding mystery, including a measured performance by Arjun Rampal early in the film, which signals a looming darkness rather than spells it out.

Belief as Both Weapon and Shield

The film’s central theme is the dual nature of belief. This is embodied in the character of Amardev, played by Paresh Rawal. A revered spiritual figure who is both respected and feared, Amardev represents the danger of blind faith. Rawal avoids theatrical menace. His performance is subdued and precise, making the character more unsettling. The audience is never quite sure what to make of him, and that tension works to the film’s advantage.

Suhail Nayyar plays Nikita’s former partner with restraint. Their dynamic never overtakes the central plot, but it does add dimension to her character, hinting at a shared past and unfinished emotions. However, some supporting characters lack the same depth. They appear, contribute to the moment, and fade without leaving much behind.

Atmosphere Over Spectacle

One of the film’s strongest aspects lies in how it handles tone. The cinematography relies on dim lighting, narrow interiors, and a muted palette to build unease. There’s a consistent sense of claustrophobia and dread, but it never overwhelms the story. The film chooses mood over spectacle. This decision pays off, especially in moments where the supernatural creeps in—not with noise, but with suggestion.

The sound design complements this subtlety. There is no overuse of music or overbearing effects. The silence becomes part of the tension, placing the audience firmly in Nikita’s shoes. The fear in Nikita Roy is not just of what may be lurking outside but of what lies buried within.

Flaws in Pacing and Plausibility

While the film excels in mood and mystery, it falters in places where logic is stretched. Certain narrative turns feel unearned, and the pacing stumbles, especially in the second half. There are long stretches where the story slows to a crawl, risking the viewer’s patience. Some scenes are weighed down by exposition or vague symbolism that doesn’t always serve the central plot.

Additionally, not all character arcs reach a satisfying resolution. A few secondary characters feel underdeveloped, existing more as narrative tools than as people with agency or complexity. These gaps prevent the film from reaching the full potential of its setup