With Kaali Kheti gearing up for its theatrical release, producer Sana Khan has high hopes for the film, particularly because of its unusual take on the horror genre. At the film's trailer launch, Sana spoke about the audience she hopes to reach, her confidence in the final product and the personal journey that brought her and writer-director Haris Imtiyaz Khan from being passionate horror fans to making a horror film of their own. She believes the film offers something different from familiar horror stories and is best experienced on the big screen.
Speaking about her expectations for the theatrical release, Sana highlighted the dedicated audience that regularly follows horror films. She said, “I definitely have high expectations, because I believe the audience for the horror genre is quite distinct. There is a dedicated segment of the audience—horror fans like Haris and myself—who make it a point to watch every horror film that gets released. I am very hopeful, and I trust that this audience will come out to watch the film.” Her confidence comes from the belief that audiences who enjoy the genre are always looking for fresh stories and unusual concepts.
Sana also stressed that Kaali Kheti is not intended to be another conventional horror outing. Describing what makes it different, she added, “While many well-made horror films have been released in the past, I am confident that this one offers something truly unseen. It’s a unique 'farm-based' horror story. I hope that after watching the trailer, people will realize that this is a film meant to be experienced in a theater—an experience you simply cannot replicate on a regular screen. I highly recommend that everyone watches it in the cinema.” Her comments underline the importance of the film's setting and atmosphere, with the theatrical experience expected to play a major role in bringing its tension to life.
The producer also revealed that she is extremely proud of the film and that its creation has been a special journey for her and Haris. The two have known each other for more than 16 years, and their shared interest in horror cinema played an important part in their friendship. Reflecting on how that passion eventually turned into filmmaking, Sana said, “I am extremely proud of the work that has come out. I have known Haris (her husband and director of the film) for more than 16 years, and we used to watch a lot of horror films together. In fact, our shared obsession with horror films is one of the reasons we became friends.”
Interestingly, their love for cinema extended beyond watching films. Sana recalled that she and Haris were equally fascinated by movie trailers, making it a shared hobby long before they decided to produce a film themselves. She explained, “It’s a bit unusual—and, coincidentally, today is also the day of the trailer launch—but Haris and I were also obsessed with watching trailers; not just for horror films, but for all kinds of movies. It was a bit of a quirky hobby of ours! Ultimately, it was films—specifically horror films—that brought us together over the years.” Their long-standing interest in the genre eventually found a creative outlet in Kaali Kheti.
Sana further explained that the script stood out because it moved away from the familiar horror themes of demonic possession and exorcism. “When I first heard the script for Kaali Kheti, it felt truly different. Usually, one associates horror with themes like demonic possession or exorcism, but this was something quite unconventional—it was just very different. That’s what convinced us to make this film. Going from simply watching horror movies to actually creating one has been quite a journey—an extraordinary one, for sure,” she said. Set against a rustic village backdrop, Kaali Kheti explores dark secrets buried beneath agricultural land and the consequences of hiding the past. Written and directed by Haris Imtiyaz Khan, the film is produced by Sana Khan under BlackCanvas Studio in association with Zeroland Production. Jackie Shroff and Sharad Kelkar headline the cast, alongside Neha Sargam, Virendra Saxena, Shaji Choudhary and Spandan Sameer Javalagi. With cinematography by Kiran Deohans and a background score by Alokananda Dasgupta, the film is now scheduled to release in cinemas on November 20, 2026.