Raaz 3: The Third Dimension 2012

The film delves into the theme of jealousy and the extremes to which individuals will go to achieve success. In India, this sentiment is pervasive, affecting countless families. Many fall victim to the sinister influence of black magic, which often disrupts both relationships and careers.

The narrative centers around Shanaya (Bipasha Basu), a once-celebrated actress whose career is now in steep decline. The story opens with Shanaya maniacally laughing at herself in a mirror before she shatters it and takes her own life with a shard. This tragic event provides the backdrop for a series of flashbacks, revealing Shanaya’s earlier life as a successful actress on the set of her latest film. During this time, she receives accolades from her peers, particularly from her director boyfriend, Aditya (Emraan Hashmi). She earns various Filmfare awards, and her love for Aditya grows as she pushes him to marry her. However, Aditya, still striving to establish himself as a successful director, postpones their wedding until his film achieves great success.

Everything changes when Sanjana (Esha Gupta), a young and aspiring actress, enters the scene. Desperate for work, Sanjana seeks roles but faces constant rejection. Just when she is about to give up, Aditya notices her and is instantly captivated, offering her a lead role in his film that becomes a smash hit. As Sanjana gains fame and adoration from the audience, Shanaya quickly finds herself overshadowed and forgotten. Consumed by jealousy, Shanaya contemplates quitting acting altogether and focuses on marrying Aditya. Torn between the two women, Aditya ultimately chooses Sanjana, leaving Shanaya heartbroken and spiraling into despair.

As Shanaya’s mental state deteriorates, she resorts to seeking help from her uncle, Agoo dada (Zeeshan Khalid), a tantrik who introduces her to the dark arts of black magic. She invokes the ghost of Tara, asking it to make Sanjana’s life unbearable. As Tara torments Sanjana, driving her to the brink of suicide, Aditya is deeply troubled by her suffering. He seeks the guidance of another tantrik in order to confront the ghost and save Sanjana.

The tension culminates when Aditya, armed with a locket, confronts the vengeful spirit, ultimately forcing it to retreat. However, the spirit seeks retribution by possessing Shanaya, leading her to repeat her tragic beginning. In a twist of fate, Aditya grapples with his guilt over having helped Shanaya in her malicious pursuits while harboring feelings for Sanjana. In a final act of redemption, he shares the truth with Sanjana and aids her in breaking free from the curse, culminating in a climactic confrontation with the spirit as they fight for Sanjana’s life. This haunting tale serves as a chilling exploration of the darkness that envy can bring, reflecting the deeper societal issues at play.