Okay, this is one of those Bollywood pairings nobody had on their 2026 bingo card.
Tamannaah Bhatia and Junaid Khan are reportedly in discussions to headline the third instalment of Ekta Kapoor’s cult horror-thriller universe. The film is currently being referred to as Ragini 3, a continuation of the popular Ragini MMS franchise.
According to Pinkvilla, both actors are in talks for the project, though an official announcement from the makers is still pending. So yes — treat this as strong buzz, not locked casting… yet.
🎬 Who’s Directing This Time?
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Reports suggest that Shashanka Ghosh — who directed the original 2011 Ragini MMS — is likely to return to helm the new chapter. If that happens, it brings the franchise full circle creatively.
However, the film has already seen behind-the-scenes shakeups. Variety India reported that director Sahir Raza, who was initially attached to direct Ragini MMS 3, has exited the project due to scheduling conflicts.
Apparently, Sahir is currently serving as a showrunner on a Netflix series and was required to be present daily under the platform’s production mandate — something that clashed with the film’s schedule. The makers have now parted ways and are searching for a replacement (unless Ghosh’s return is finalized).
A Shift in Tone?
Here’s the twist — the new film is said to move away from the franchise’s horror-erotica identity and lean more heavily into supernatural storytelling.
That’s a noticeable tonal shift.
The first film, starring Rajkummar Rao and Kainaz Motivala, was gritty and found-footage driven.
Then came Ragini MMS 2 in 2014, led by Sunny Leone, which blended horror with high-glam elements — and of course, gave us the chartbuster “Baby Doll.”
Sources say the makers are hoping to recreate that pop-cultural moment again — reportedly with Tamannaah performing a glamorous number in the new film.
If true, that’s clearly aiming for nostalgia + viral appeal.
What’s Next for the Leads?
Tamannaah is currently gearing up for VVAN: Force of the Forest, co-starring Sidharth Malhotra. The mythology-inspired thriller is slated for release on May 15.
Meanwhile, Junaid Khan — who’s steadily carving his own space — will next appear opposite Sai Pallavi in Ek Din. The recently released teaser hints at a soft, old-school romance, which makes the idea of him jumping into a supernatural thriller even more intriguing.
Final Words
If this casting clicks, Ragini 3 could feel like a full franchise reset — new generation leads, tonal shift toward supernatural horror, and potentially a fresh glam anthem moment.
Nothing is official yet, but if Tamannaah and Junaid do come onboard, this might just be the most unexpected horror pairing Bollywood has cooked up in a while.
Low-key? I’m curious to see how this one shapes up.
