Bhooth Bangla Postponed: Masterstroke or Suicidal Move?

The upcoming horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, starring Akshay Kumar, has been pushed to April 17. The makers have also announced paid previews starting from 9 PM on April 16.

Producer Ekta Kapoor has reportedly taken this decision to secure more screens in theaters. She wants to make sure the film gets the right amount of attention from the audience. While the move is meant to be helpful, many industry insiders feel that this constant shifting might hurt the film’s initial performance at the box office.

One major concern is that the new date misses two important holidays, Vaisakhi and Bihu. These dates usually bring in a lot of families and moviegoers. By missing these holidays, the film loses out on a guaranteed boost in ticket sales. Plus, Dhurandhar The Revenge has seen a drop in footfalls, so pushing Bhooth Bangla from its scheduled date doesn’t make much sense.

Furthermore, the choice of late-night paid previews is being questioned. Insiders pointed out that Bhooth Bangla is not an event film like Dhurandhar, so why would people come to watch a 9 PM show before the release when they can easily watch it the next day?

Also, the current buzz and early predictions suggest under 15Cr without advance booking. For most films, it’s a fine start, but for a collaboration between Akshay and Priyadarshan, these numbers are underwhelming or poor. For a healthy opening, the makers now have to increase the buzz of the film.