He ruled the late 1980s and 1990s with back-to-back blockbusters. Known for crafting high-octane thrillers that kept audiences on the edge of their seats, Rajiv Rai — the filmmaker, writer, editor, and producer behind big hits like Yudh (1985), Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), and Gupt (1997) — suddenly disappeared from the spotlight. Now, 21 years later, he returns with Zora, a suspense actioner featuring a fresh cast, one song, and made on a low budget.

(L-R) Stills from director Rajiv Rai’s ‘Mohra’ (1994) and ‘Gupt’ (1997)

Of course, it is a daunting task — ask any filmmaker. But for Rai, this is an attempt to re-enter the industry doing what he does best. About his film Zora, he says, “It is a whodunit, but different from Gupt.” The film is made on a shoestring budget of R2 crore, using Rai’s own equity and four cameras. “The low budget is the hero of the film. In my day, I have directed some lavishly mounted movies, but today it is hard for me as a producer to deal with a big-budget movie loss. So, I have only one song in Zora. The cost of all the actors, including the junior artistes, is Rs 25 lakh,” says the director. He adds, “The film is a case study like Hollywood films The Blair Witch Project [1999] and Paranormal Activity [2007] [which were made on a small budget].”