Akshay Kumar has never been one to shy away from reinventing himself, and with Bhooth Bangla, his latest horror-comedy, he’s doing just that.
Is this his way of reclaiming the crown in a genre he once dominated, or is it just a smart move to get back at the industry that seemed to have moved on without him?
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Bhooth Bangla isn’t just another horror-comedy—it’s Akshay’s version of Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Directed by the same filmmaker, Priyadarshan, and featuring a familiar supporting cast including Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani, Bhooth Bangla mirrors the essence of its predecessor.
With a classical dance sequence thrown in, it feels like a deliberate homage to what was once Akshay’s trademark in the genre. The question is: Is Akshay telling Bhushan Kumar and Kartik Aaryan how horror-comedy is truly done?
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For those who remember Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Akshay’s Dr. Aditya Srivastava is iconic. But by 2022, the sequel Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 had Kartik Aaryan in the lead and Akshay was out of the picture.
The reasons for his exit were speculated to be his high fees but Akshay’s comment “Mujhe nikal diya, main kya karta?” (They removed me, what could I do?) suggested there was more to it than just money.
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When Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was announced again without Akshay, it seemed like Bollywood had moved on. But Akshay wasn’t done yet.
Enter Bhooth Bangla, a film that feels like Akshay’s direct response to the new direction of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise.
In his own version of the genre, Akshay teams up with Priyadarshan again to recreate the magic of Bhool Bhulaiyaa—but this time with his own twist.
Tabu in a grand classical dance sequence is just the cherry on the top for fans of the 2007 hit.For Akshay, it’s not just about being relevant—it’s a message.
As he says, Bhooth Bangla goes into the realm of fantasy and black magic, concepts that have always fascinated Indian audiences.
Priyadarshan agrees, “There are a lot of people in India who believe in Black Magic.When you tell it in a funny film, I think it should work. I am extremely happy with Bhooth Bangla and I am trying this for the first time.
I am trying to do something which is a fantasy and there’s a lot of fantasy stuff working these days, like Kantara which is based on those beliefs.”
The film will tap into those same cultural beliefs around black magic and fantasy and try to connect with the audience like Kantara did.
If Bhooth Bangla succeeds, that would really put the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 down to franchise hype rather than Kartik Aaryan’s star power.
And if it doesn’t—well, that might mean audiences are finally ready to move on from the genre.
One thing is certain: Akshay Kumar isn’t done with horror-comedy just yet. His return in Bhooth Bangla is poised to make a real splash—and quietly remind everyone of the legacy he built in that space.
That legacy is woven into the very fabric of Bhooth Bangla. The film might not carry the Bhool Bhulaiyaa name, but its spirit is unmistakably Akshay’s—and that connection is undeniable.
