New Delhi, India — Acclaimed filmmaker and International Emmy Award-winning director Sushant Nagpal makes his fiction debut with Barber of the Gods, a striking 20-minute Hindi supernatural drama that blends Indian mythology, magical realism, and psychological horror into a haunting exploration of faith, inheritance, and mortality.
Set in an unnamed Indian town during the early 2000s, Barber of the Gods follows a local barber and his son who possess an extraordinary and terrifying gift: the ability to restore a man’s hair completely, but only in exchange for a few years of his life. As customers willingly surrender fragments of their future in pursuit of vanity and social acceptance, the family business becomes entangled with forces far beyond the mortal realm.
Running parallel to this earthly narrative is a celestial timeline rooted in Hindu cosmology, where a divine master barber, Savita Maharishi, and his apprentice operate a barbershop serving the Gods themselves. When Siddharth, the barber’s reluctant son, is compelled to inherit the family profession, the boundaries between the mundane and the divine begin to dissolve, drawing him toward an unsettling darkness that threatens both worlds.
The film emerged from Nagpal’s fascination with the cultural rituals and taboos surrounding hair in India. Reflecting on questions such as why traditional barbershops rarely remain open after sunset and why haircuts are avoided on certain days, the filmmaker developed the concept of “Ashubh” — the notion of inauspiciousness that governs many everyday practices without clear explanation.
“Barber of the Gods examines the invisible systems of belief that shape our lives,” says Nagpal. “The film uses folklore and supernatural imagery to explore occupational trauma, generational inheritance, and the consequences of accepting rituals without questioning their origins.”
Described as a gothic, mytho-urban supernatural fable, the film combines atmospheric visual storytelling with elements of psychological horror, creating a uniquely Indian cinematic language that draws equally from mythology, folklore, and contemporary social realities.
The film stars celebrated actor Kumud Mishra as Hari Baabu, the master barber, alongside Jaivardhan Lakhera as Siddharth, whose journey forms the emotional core of the story. Cinematography is by Manas Krishna, whose visual approach helps bridge the earthly and celestial dimensions of the narrative.
Since its completion, Barber of the Gods has garnered recognition on the independent festival circuit, premiering as an Official Selection at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) and screening at the Habitat Film Festival (HFF) hosted by the India Habitat Centre.
With its blend of mythology, horror, and social commentary, Barber of the Gods offers a distinctive cineFilm Information
Title: Barber of the Gods
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 20 Minutes
Genre: Supernatural Drama / Mythological Horror
Writer & Director: Sushant Nagpal
Cast: Kumud Mishra, Jaivardhan Lakhera
Cinematography: Manas Krishna
Festival Screenings
- Dharamshala International Film Festival (Official Selection)
- Habitat Film Festival, India Habitat Centre
Media Contact
For interviews, festival inquiries, screenings, and press materials, please contact the production team.
