‘Nayyi Navelli’ Arrives in Cinemas With a Surprise Jacqueline Fernandez Cameo
The horror comedy Nayyi Navelli released in cinemas on October 16, drawing attention for its offbeat premise, quirky trailer and the presence of National Award-winning actor Yami Gautam Dhar. But audiences heading to the big screen can look forward to another unexpected attraction: Jacqueline Fernandez makes a special appearance in the film.
Fernandez appears for a few minutes during a pivotal comic sequence. Although her role is brief, the cameo is designed to catch viewers off guard and add a burst of humour to the story. The surprise also gives the film an extra talking point for moviegoers and Bollywood fans, particularly those who enjoy spotting unexpected guest appearances.
Yami Gautam Dhar and Jacqueline Fernandez reunite
The cameo marks the second time Gautam Dhar and Fernandez have shared screen space. Their previous collaboration was Bhoot Police, the 2021 horror comedy that brought together Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Jaaved Jaaferi. With Nayyi Navelli, the two actors return to the genre, though this time in a different story and with a new ensemble cast.
The latest film also features Addinath M. Kothare, Anurag Thakur and Sunita Rajwar, among other performers. Their characters inhabit a family setting that gives the supernatural comedy room to play with household tensions, suspicion and the kind of escalating misunderstandings that can turn everyday relationships into comic chaos.
A joint family, a mysterious bride and a witchcraft suspicion
At the centre of Nayyi Navelli is a mysterious woman who marries into a joint family in Meerut. The situation takes an unsettling turn when her husband’s younger brother becomes convinced that she is a “daayan,” or witch. His suspicion sets the story in motion, creating a blend of supernatural intrigue and family comedy.
The premise draws on a familiar horror-comedy device: an ordinary community confronted with something it cannot easily explain. In a joint-family setting, one person’s fear can quickly become everyone’s business, allowing rumours, loyalties and old tensions to shape the action. The film’s comic potential comes from the contrast between the family’s everyday concerns and the increasingly strange possibility that the new bride may be more than she seems.
Rather than relying only on scares, the setup positions the film to explore how people respond to the unknown. The younger brother’s belief may be sincere, exaggerated or shaped by what he thinks he has witnessed; that uncertainty keeps the audience guessing while leaving space for humour. The result is a story designed to balance supernatural suspense with the lively dynamics of a family gathering.
Creative team behind the horror comedy
Nayyi Navelli is produced by Aanand L. Rai and Himanshu Sharma under the Colour Yellow banner and presented by Amazon MGM Studios. Sharma has written the story, while Divy Nidhi Sharma has penned the screenplay. Balaji Mohan directs the film.
The combination of a distinctive premise and a comedy-led approach reflects the continuing appeal of horror comedies in Indian cinema. The genre can bring together suspense and broad humour, while also using recognisable settings and family relationships to make supernatural events feel close to home. For viewers, that mix offers a different kind of theatrical experience: one that can prompt a laugh one moment and a nervous question the next.
Jacqueline Fernandez’s latest big-screen appearance
For Fernandez, Nayyi Navelli is her second big-screen appearance of the year, following Welcome To The Jungle. In 2025, she was also seen in the comedy Housefull 5 and the action film Fateh, which starred Sonu Sood. She made a special appearance in the song “Money Money” from Raid 2 as well.
Her brief appearance in the new release continues a familiar Bollywood tradition: a recognisable star stepping into a supporting moment that can become one of the film’s most discussed surprises. Cameos often work best when they arrive at an unexpected point in the story, and the film’s makers are keeping the details of Fernandez’s sequence under wraps so audiences can discover it for themselves.
What audiences can expect
With Gautam Dhar leading the cast, a Meerut joint-family backdrop and a mystery built around a possible witch, Nayyi Navelli is aimed at viewers looking for a light-hearted alternative to straight horror. Its unusual title and premise have already helped distinguish it, while Fernandez’s cameo adds another reason for fans to watch closely.
The film’s theatrical release also gives audiences the chance to experience its comic reveals and surprise appearances together, rather than encountering them through clips or spoilers online. For those planning a cinema visit, the central question is simple: is the new bride truly supernatural, or has suspicion taken over the household? The answer—and the unexpected appearance along the way—forms part of the film’s appeal.
As Nayyi Navelli begins its run, the film brings together horror, family drama and Bollywood star power in a story built around one unsettling possibility. Whether viewers come for Yami Gautam Dhar, the genre blend or Jacqueline Fernandez’s cameo, the movie offers a fresh supernatural-comedy setup for the big screen.
