Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past may have given Chetna Pande a memorable moment in the spotlight, but the actress is already looking beyond the success and thinking about what comes next. And if there’s one thing she seems clear about, it’s this: she doesn’t want to be limited by genre, image or glamour. Talking about the kind of work she wants to do from here, she says she’s in no mood to put herself in a box, not even a horror-shaped one.
“At this stage of my career, I don’t want to limit myself to any one genre. Of course, I would love to continue doing horror because this film has shown me how powerful and emotionally demanding the genre can be. But as an actor, my biggest dream is to constantly surprise myself and my audience,” she said.
For her, the goal is simple: find roles that challenge her emotionally, physically and mentally, rather than chase projects for surface appeal. She said, “I want to play characters that challenge me emotionally, physically and mentally. Whether it’s a strong commercial entertainer, an intense drama, a thriller, a biopic or even a completely unconventional role, what excites me is a character that leaves an impact.”
And in an industry where glamour often dominates the conversation, Chetna’s priorities are refreshingly straightforward. She said, “More than screen time, I’m interested in meaningful roles. More than glamour, I’m interested in stories. I want every project to push me beyond what I’ve already done because that’s the only way I believe an actor truly grows.”
That same grounded approach also shows in the way she’s reacting to Haunted 3D’s success. While the film’s response has clearly made her happy, she says she’s still processing it all rather than fully celebrating.
“Honestly, I’m still processing everything. When you spend so much time working on a film, facing uncertainties and hoping audiences will accept it, you don’t immediately realise what’s happening when the success finally arrives,” she said.
For now, gratitude seems to be taking up more space than celebration. She said, “The last few days have been filled with gratitude more than celebration. Of course, I’ve spoken to my family, my friends and the people who stood by me throughout this journey. Seeing them happy is probably the biggest celebration for me.”
“But I also feel this success comes with responsibility. I don’t want to become complacent or get carried away by the numbers. I want this success to motivate me to work harder and make better choices going forward. So yes, I’m celebrating, but more than celebrating, I’m feeling thankful. Thankful to the audience, thankful to Vikram Sir, Anand Sir, my entire team and everyone who believed in me and in Sunheri. This is only the beginning, and I’m excited for everything that’s still ahead,” Chetna ended.
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