Shweta Tripathi, best known for her fiery presence in Mirzapur, is now venturing into darker, deeper cinematic waters—both on-screen and behind the camera. Her latest project, Nava, marks her first lead role in a horror film and her debut as a producer under her newly launched banner, Bandarful Films. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the film promises a uniquely Indian horror experience rooted in myth, memory, and the eerie beauty of the Sundarbans.
Directed by Tokyo-based filmmaker Anshul Chauhan, Nava also marks the India debut of his production house, Kowatanda Films. Set in the misty wetlands of Bengal’s Sundarbans, the story follows Tara Sen, who returns to her homeland only to stumble into a generations-old mystery involving river gods and long-buried family secrets. With a screenplay by Akash Mohimen, the film blends cultural specificity with a universal tale of confronting one’s past—basically, ghosts with emotional baggage.
Tripathi describes Nava as a film that “draws from the soil of Bengal,” weaving together folklore, identity, and the haunting ties of ancestry. It’s the kind of horror that doesn’t just rely on jump scares but digs into themes of healing and heritage—a cinematic chill that lingers long after the final frame.
This isn’t Tripathi’s first foray into producing, though. Her banner’s inaugural film, Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan, a queer drama starring Tilottama Shome, sets the tone for the kind of bold, layered stories she’s keen to champion. Directed by National Award-winner Sanjoy Nag, that project is slated to roll by the end of 2025, with Tripathi and Shome leading the cast.
With Nava, Tripathi is clearly signaling that she’s ready to carve out a new creative space—one where she not only performs but also shapes the stories she wants to see on screen. If her track record is anything to go by, the journey ahead looks hauntingly promising.