A Thriller That Fights Too Many Battles
Kussh S Sinha’s directorial debut, Nikita Roy, walks into the horror-thriller territory with an intriguing setup—a rationalist author investigating her brother’s mysterious death. But instead of staying sharp and focused, the film takes too many detours, becoming a disjointed mix of horror, crime, cult mystery, and psychological drama. The result? A movie that keeps you curious in parts, but mostly leaves you confused.
Plot: From Rationalism to Ridiculous
The film kicks off with Nikita (Sonakshi Sinha) landing in London after the suspicious death of her brother, Sanal (Arjun Rampal). A firm believer in logic and science, she suspects the involvement of a godman, Amar Dev (Paresh Rawal), whom her brother was investigating. Along with her friend and ex, Jolly (Suhail Nayyar), she digs into the mystery—only to find herself in the middle of something that blends cult manipulation, paranormal events, and psychological warfare.
There’s a decent buildup in the first half. The audience is pulled into a world where superstition clashes with scientific thought. But then, without much warning or structure, the film begins to unravel—rushed developments, jarring scenes, and illogical twists. By the time the credits roll, you’re left wondering what kind of film this was meant to be.
Performances: A Few Sparks in the Fog
Sonakshi Sinha gives it her all. She looks committed, strong, and grounded. Unfortunately, the character of Nikita is underwritten—she’s brave but mostly reactive, never really ahead of the situation. Paresh Rawal shows flashes of brilliance as the sinister godman but doesn’t get enough material to make a lasting impression. Suhail Nayyar swings between earnest and over-the-top, while Arjun Rampal is impactful but barely there.
Direction & Writing: Atmosphere Over Substance
Kussh S Sinha certainly creates an eerie tone. There’s a sense of foreboding in the visuals, and the tension does occasionally work. However, the screenplay—originally by Pavan Kirpalani—lacks clarity. Multiple writers seem to have tugged the story in different directions, and it shows. A promising idea about faith versus logic gets buried under scattered subplots and half-baked genre switches.
The dialogues aren’t memorable, and the horror elements feel recycled. Even the final confrontation between Nikita and Amar Dev, which should have been a crescendo, falls flat due to the lack of emotional build-up and narrative depth.
Missed Opportunities: What Could Have Been
There’s a compelling story hidden somewhere in Nikita Roy—a commentary on blind faith, a sister’s fight for justice, the manipulation of belief systems. Sadly, these threads are never fully developed. What could’ve been a tight psychological thriller ends up resembling a dramatized television mystery with better production design.
The climax feels like a checklist item, not a payoff. Important questions are brushed aside, and new elements are introduced too late to matter.
Final Verdict: ★★½☆ (2.5/5 Stars)
Nikita Roy wants to be a smart, suspenseful supernatural thriller, but its ambitions are undone by cluttered storytelling and lack of depth. While Sonakshi Sinha tries hard to anchor the film, even her strong screen presence can’t save a script that loses its grip midway.
Fans of the genre might still find moments of intrigue, but most viewers will walk away feeling underwhelmed.