Director: Ram Gopal Varma, Jijy Phillip, Sajid Khan, J D Chakravarthy, Vivek Shah, Prawal Raman
Producer: Factory
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Anil Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Manoj Pahwa, Randeep Hooda, Zakir Hussain, Suniel Shetty, Sonali Kulkarni, Rajpal Yadav, Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Makrand Deshpande

It is a sequel to Darna Mana Hai, and again it has six different stories but this time around have been directed by a different director.

There is no story line to the movie and it is more a 'scary movie' type of film - it’s more of a comedy. With renowned comedian Sajid Khan directing, you would expect it to have a few laughs. Manoj Pahwa is a film enthusiast and never misses a first night showing. On his way to watch Darna Mana Hai he travels through a graveyard, against his mother’s wishes. On his way back home he dies of a heart attack. The laughs exceed the horror. Sajid Khan does a good job at directing. Acting is average.

The Amitabh story? This one was supposed to be the core episode of the film, as it stars Amitabh Bachchan, and is directed by Ramgopal Verma, himself. But, it turns out to be a sour story, with no substance and hardly any thrills. Amitabh plays an old aged paranoid professor who believes that there is an invisible person in his house. His student Ritesh Deshmukh advises him to seek professional psychiatric help. Direction is nothing special, acting by Amitabh is as expected, but the story is a downer.

In story 3, Arjun Rampal plays a traveller whose car breaks down. He manages to locate a secluded bungalow, where a couple (Bipasha Basu, Makrand Deshpande) reside. The couple try hard to scare Arjun, but he states that he doesn’t believe in ghosts. It is then that a spirit arrives at the bungalow and refuses to go back. Out of all the 6 stories, this is the one that actually scares the viewer, but even that is without thrills. The story suffers from being to drawn out and slow. Prawal’s direction is effective, while the acting from all three actors is sub-standard.

Suniel Shetty and Sonali Kulkarni play husband and wife, who get an unexpected visitor (Rajpal Yadav), in the fourth chapter. The visitor is disguised as a salesman but in fact he is a thief who wants to rob them. There is a tussle between the three characters, a fight ensues, and a shot if fired. Where is the horror aspect here? No where. This is not a horror story at all. I am amused as to why this has been included in this film. Suniel Shetty and Rajpal Yadav perform above average but the story lets the performances down.

The sexy Mallika Sherawat features in story 5; one is hoping that this chapter might have some sex and actual horror. Does it? No! Anil Kapoor is a film-maker who wants to make a horror film. He decides to write the script to his film at his Khandala bungalow. On the way he gives a lone lady (Mallika Sherawat) a lift. He takes her to his bungalow and it is here she discloses to him that she is a ghost of a woman who died in highway accident. Jijy’s direction is let down by the script, while acting by Anil Kapoor and Mallika Sherawat is watch able.

Randeep Honda comes across a woman on a rainy night, in our final story. The next morning he finds himself in the police lock-up, charged with the murder of a man. He has no recollection of the incident. By far the best story in the whole film, it has suspense and horror, one that certainly scares you. Chekeravarthy is in full form. Randeep, Zakir and Rasika excel.

Oh, and I forgot… there is a seventh story too. I will leave this a suspense for you; watch the film to find out.

Darna Zaroori Hai is a sorry sequel that never matches up to the original. It hardly scares and never once gives you the chills. A major disappointment.