Nikita Roy (2025) Movie: Sonakshi Sinha’s Horror Thriller Misses the Mark Despite Bold Themes

Nikita Roy marks a significant debut for director Kussh Sinha, who steps into filmmaking with a supernatural thriller. The film stars Sonakshi Sinha in the titular role alongside Paresh Rawal, Arjun Rampal, and Suhail Nayyar.

The project was announced in 2022 and filmed primarily in the United Kingdom. What makes this particularly intriguing is the family connection – Kussh Sinha is Sonakshi Sinha’s brother, making this a true family collaboration.

Plot and Storyline

Nikita Roy is the story of a girl fighting blind faith. Nikita is an author and part of the International Rationalist Community (IRC), London. She works as a rational investigator who debunks supernatural claims.

The film opens with an eerie scene where Arjun Rampal struggles with unknown fear. This immediately establishes the supernatural tone while introducing the central conflict between rational thinking and unexplained phenomena.

The storyline explores themes of blind faith, religious exploitation, and dangerous consequences of unquestioning belief. Through Nikita’s journey, the film examines how rational thinking can be both powerful and limiting.

Cast Performance

Sonakshi Sinha delivers a compelling performance as the titular character. Her portrayal of Nikita showcases a character who is both intellectually rigorous and emotionally vulnerable. I found her ability to convey skepticism while showing gradual uncertainty quite convincing.

Arjun Rampal brings his characteristic intensity to the role. His performance complements Sinha’s portrayal, creating a dynamic that explores different perspectives on faith and rationality.

Paresh Rawal and Suhail Nayyar provide solid foundations for the narrative. The ensemble cast works well together, creating believable relationships that ground the supernatural elements.

Direction and Technical Aspects

Kussh Sinha’s directorial debut shows promise in handling complex thematic material. His approach to supernatural elements is measured, using them to enhance story rather than relying on cheap scares.

The film’s cinematography effectively captures the eerie atmosphere while maintaining realism. The UK locations provide a distinctive backdrop that adds international appeal to the narrative.

The pacing allows for character development while building tension gradually. I appreciated the director’s choice to focus on psychological elements rather than heavy visual effects.

What Works Well

The film’s greatest strength lies in its willingness to tackle complex philosophical questions about faith and rationality. Rather than presenting simple good-versus-evil, it explores gray areas where logic and faith intersect.

The social commentary on religious exploitation adds relevance to the supernatural thriller format. The film examines how fear makes people susceptible to false prophets and fraudulent practices.

Sonakshi Sinha’s performance anchors the film effectively. The international setting and production values give the film a polished look that enhances credibility.

Areas for Improvement

While thematic intentions are admirable, the execution sometimes falls short of ambitious goals. The screenplay could have benefited from tighter plotting to avoid logical inconsistencies.

Some sequences feel drawn out, while others rush through important plot developments. I felt the balance between supernatural elements and rational investigation could have been better calibrated.

The film’s attempt to blur lines between belief and skepticism is commendable, but execution sometimes leaves audiences uncertain about the film’s stance.

Critical Reception and Ratings

The film has received mixed response from critics and audiences. Bollywood Hungama gave it a 1.5/5 rating, suggesting disappointment in execution despite appreciating thematic ambitions.

Bollywood Life offered a more positive perspective, describing it as smart and gripping thriller with social commentary. India TV News noted that Sonakshi Sinha shines in her brother’s directorial debut.

IndiaGlitz mentioned that the final act creates lasting unease rather than traditional horror scares, suggesting the film’s impact lies in psychological elements.

Public Reception

The film’s commercial performance has been modest. Reports suggest it headed for a poor day 1 collection at the Indian box office, struggling to connect with mainstream audiences.

The audience response has been varied. Some appreciate the film’s intellectual approach to supernatural themes while others found it lacking in expected excitement and scares.

Social media reactions have been mixed, with praise for Sonakshi Sinha’s performance and production values, but criticism for pacing and plot elements.

Final Verdict

Nikita Roy represents an ambitious attempt to create a supernatural thriller that engages with serious social questions. While the film succeeds in raising important discussions about faith and rationality, execution doesn’t always match intentions.

Sonakshi Sinha delivers a committed performance, and Kussh Sinha shows promise as a director willing to tackle complex themes. However, the film suffers from pacing issues and inconsistent writing.

The film works best when focusing on the psychological journey and social commentary about religious exploitation. Despite shortcomings, I believe Nikita Roy deserves recognition for using horror genre as vehicle for meaningful social commentary.

Rating: 2.5/5