Good Films Should Be Available in Every Language Says Isha Talwar After Watching Dahaan

Mirzapur fame Isha Talwar recently attended the special screening of the upcoming Odia horror film Dahaan: The Evil Within in Mumbai, joining the film’s cast and crew for the special event. After watching the first half of the film, the actress was visibly impressed by the storytelling, performances, music and cinematography. Isha not only praised director Anupam Patnaik’s gripping approach to horror but also expressed her strong belief that good films should be made accessible to audiences across languages.

Talking about her experience at the screening, Isha Talwar admitted that the film genuinely managed to scare her, which she considered one of its biggest strengths. She said, “Actually, I’m watching a horror movie after a long time, and I’m genuinely scared—so that’s a good thing. If a horror movie makes you laugh instead of scaring you, I think that’s a problem. But I think this film is shot very well, and I’m really enjoying the story so far. It’s not very predictable; you know, things in horror movies can sometimes become quite predictable, but that’s not the case here. And that’s why I’m really enjoying the film. The performances are very good—very natural—and I like the music and the cinematography. I’m looking forward to the second half.”

Isha was then asked whether Dahaan should also be made available in Hindi so that audiences outside the Odia-speaking community can experience the film. The actress was quick to agree, emphasising that language should not become a barrier when a film has something worthwhile to offer. She said, “Absolutely, why not? A film is a film, and I think good movies should be available in every language. Do you think this movie—or the ones releasing after it—will change the concept of horror movies? As I said, I feel like we haven't had a good horror film in a long time. So, it definitely should be released, and more people should watch it.” Her comments underline the growing importance of regional cinema reaching wider audiences through dubbing and multilingual releases.

When asked directly about how she found the film, Isha once again gave an enthusiastic response. “Amazing, very good. He is a fantastic director—we all know that already. And the film is gripping; you don’t get bored. You’re constantly trying to figure out what will happen next, so that’s a good thing.” Her reaction highlights one of the film’s key selling points: its attempt to keep viewers guessing rather than relying entirely on predictable horror tropes. For an actress who has herself been part of popular Hindi-language streaming content, Isha’s appreciation also adds an interesting perspective on the potential of regional films to connect with audiences beyond their original language.

Directed and written by Anupam Patnaik, Dahaan: The Evil Within is an Odia-language supernatural horror thriller scheduled to release in cinemas on September 11, 2026. The story revolves around a young girl who discovers a mysterious box inside a haunted mansion, unknowingly unleashing an ancient and malicious spirit. As the supernatural force begins consuming her, her siblings and a local pastor are forced into a desperate race against time to break the curse and save her. The film stars Barsha Nayak, Aurosikha Mishra, Samrat Mahapatra and Partha Sarathi Ray in key roles.

The special screening in Mumbai brought together the film’s cast and creative team, giving industry members an early opportunity to experience the horror drama. Isha’s reaction is particularly significant because Dahaan is attempting to bring a distinctly Odia horror story to the big screen while maintaining a cinematic scale that could potentially appeal to audiences across India. Her suggestion of a Hindi version also reflects the larger conversation around regional films finding new viewers through dubbed and multilingual releases.

For Isha Talwar, however, the conversation goes beyond language. Her comments underline the simple idea that a genuinely good film deserves the widest possible audience. With Dahaan preparing to arrive in theatres, the actress has given the film an enthusiastic thumbs-up after experiencing it herself. Whether the supernatural thriller can deliver the same impact to general audiences remains to be seen, but if Isha’s reaction is anything to go by, the film appears to have succeeded in doing the most important thing a horror movie can do—make its audience genuinely nervous about what happens next.

Isha herself also has an interesting project ahead. The actress has been cast as the female lead opposite Rajniesh Duggall in the upcoming untitled Pankaj Sijairya biopic. As she continues to explore different roles across film and streaming, her enthusiastic response to Dahaan adds another interesting dimension to the film’s promotional journey.