Egged on by the challenge thrown by director Ram Gopal Verma that his latest horror film 'Phoonk' was too scary to be watched all alone, a youth here has enjoyed the movie with not a single soul around, by booking an entire 227-seat theatre all for himself. The 30-year-old Pavin Ponanna, an advertising professional and a native of Madikere in Coorg district of Karnataka, booked the Inox theatre paying Rs 47,000 for a night show on Sunday and watched the entire film. 
"It was a challenge that I dared to accept," says Pavin referring to Verma who dared that he would reward Rs five lakh to anyone who could watch the film alone. Though his apprehensive family offered a special pooja and insisted that he visit a place of worship before entering the theatre, Pavin said, he had little doubts he would emerge "unafraid".
"I came out unafraid, a celebrity", he said referring to the calls that poured in, after he came out of the theatre. Pavin said he would approach Verma to claim the award.
But is unsure of receiving it since the contest date was over. "I will ask Verma to hand over the reward or I would challenge him to make another film that was horrific enough to scare me," he says roaring in laughter.
"It was a challenge that I dared to accept," says Pavin referring to Verma who dared that he would reward Rs five lakh to anyone who could watch the film alone. Though his apprehensive family offered a special pooja and insisted that he visit a place of worship before entering the theatre, Pavin said, he had little doubts he would emerge "unafraid".
"I came out unafraid, a celebrity", he said referring to the calls that poured in, after he came out of the theatre. Pavin said he would approach Verma to claim the award.
But is unsure of receiving it since the contest date was over. "I will ask Verma to hand over the reward or I would challenge him to make another film that was horrific enough to scare me," he says roaring in laughter.
