Bhooth Bangla has completed its censor formalities. The Central Board of Film Certification has issued a UA 16+ certificate. The final runtime stands at 164 minutes and 52 seconds. Ticket bookings will open from Tuesday, April 14.
The film marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan after 16 years. Akshay is currently facing a rough phase at the box office. Fans hope this horror-comedy will help him regain his old momentum.
The makers recently made several edits to the film. The runtime was reduced by around ten minutes. Long portions from the songs O Sundari and O Re O Saawariya were trimmed.
A few objectionable words were also removed. An obscene term was replaced, and changes were made to some dialogues. A problematic subtitle was removed, along with an unacceptable reference to women. Disclaimers related to religious and superstitious themes were added.
Despite the changes, the film’s long runtime has raised concerns. Many trade experts are unsure whether audiences will sit through nearly three hours for a horror-comedy. The relatively low buzz around the film has also added to the doubts.
The trailer was expected to build hype but received mixed reactions. Priyadarshan was criticised by some viewers for repeating familiar patterns from his earlier films. The humour in the trailer was also not universally appreciated.
Some viewers feel the film follows a template similar to Stree 2 and Maa, focusing on a hidden monster. The key question now is whether the Akshay-Priyadarshan duo can recreate their earlier magic.
Trade analysts have predicted an opening of around ₹15 crore. While this is higher than Akshay’s recent films, it is still modest considering his stature. Paid previews are expected to help if word-of-mouth turns positive.
The film’s reported budget is around ₹120 crore. To recover costs, it needs strong weekend growth and steady weekday collections across India. With just days left for release, all eyes are on whether Bhooth Bangla can meet expectations.
