The Background
Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan reunite after nearly 16 years with Bhooth Bangla. Their last major collaboration was the 2010 social comedy Khatta Meetha, making this comeback highly anticipated.
The Story
Set in the early 2000s, the film revolves around a folktale from Mangalpur, where a monster named Vadhusur abducts brides before their wedding night. Akshay Kumar plays Arjun, a Londoner drowning in debt, who discovers his family owns a palace and a ₹500 crore fortune in Mangalpur. He plans his sister Meera’s (Mithila Palkar) wedding there, but his arrival triggers a series of eerie and dramatic events that shape his fate.
The Good
The first half is nostalgic, reviving the classic Priyadarshan-Akshay Kumar comedy magic. Akshay, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, and the late Asrani deliver fun moments that land well. The introduction of Vadhusur is handled effectively, and a few emotional scenes in the latter half, especially near the climax, leave a decent impact.
The Bad
The second half struggles as the humor fades and the narrative turns serious. The backstory attempts twists and emotion, but feels stretched, slowing the flow. Strong performers like Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Jisshu Sengupta are underutilized due to weak writing.
The Worse
Music falls flat, with songs and background score feeling average. VFX appear amateurish, and routine jump scares combined with repetitive or distasteful comedy scenes drag the film down further.
Screentime
At nearly three hours, the film feels stretched in the latter half, leaving viewers with plenty of time to glance at their phones.
Takeaway
The film shines in parts, Akshay Kumar’s performance, the ensemble cast, and the attempt to blend folklore with horror comedy are positives.
Bottom Line
While the Akshay-Priyadarshan duo delivers a standard entertainer in Bhooth Bangla, it misses the chance to become truly memorable.
Rating: 2.5/5
