New Delhi, July 2 -- The unexpected box office collections of Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past, a supernatural film that made over Rs.17 crore at last count without boasting of any big stars or marketing and promotional budgets, reinforces that horror is a theatrical-friendly genre in India.

Experts said the figures of low-budget titles like Haunted or Hollywood flick Obsession, which crossed Rs.80 crore in India, and Munjya ( Rs.107 crore), prove the genre doesn't depend on star value. It is also easier to recover investments in such films, even in a volatile business environment.

"Horror has always travelled in India, but historically it travelled on the back of established properties. Shaitaan, Tumbbad, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Stree, the Conj...