Bhooth Bangla release highlights: Will Akshay's return to horror-comedy shine?

Actor Akshay Kumar's horror comedy, Bhooth Bangla, surpassed the collection of Munjya on its opening day. The Priyadarshan directorial was theatrically released on April 17, 2026.

Bhooth Bangla has earned over Rs 7 crore by 4 pm on Friday, including paid previews and opening day gross earnings, surpassing Munjya, as reported by Sacnilk. The film collected Rs 4.64 crore on Friday, the report mentioned.

Bhooth Bangla actor Perin Malde recalled working as a child artist in Billu, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and late actor Irrfan Khan. Malde also shared Akshay Kumar's surprising reaction on the sets of Bhooth Bangla.

The actor, in an interview with Times Now, said, "Back in 2009, Priyadarshan sir directed this movie called Billu. I was 9 years old, I was a junior artist, was on screen for just 2–3 seconds, where I give a flying kiss to Shah Rukh Khan, and he gives me a flying kiss back in his entry sequence."

Malde revealed that one day on the Bhooth Bangla set, they had some free time between takes. He showed Priyadarshan that clip and asked him if he remembered it. He was surprised and said yes. "Then I told him, ‘Do you remember this boy?’ and he asked, ‘Who is this?’ I told him it’s me," the actor went on.

Malde said that Priyadarshan was extremely happy and even called the entire team, including Akshay Kumar, to share the moment.

Actor Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan criticised the film industry's approach towards comedy. The duo shared how the genre holds very little value in the industry.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Priyadarshan said, "It’s very difficult to make people laugh; that is where an actor’s real potential comes out." Akshay, while emphasising the relevance of comedy, added, "Here, actors who do comedy don’t get anything."

"I had complained about this. When you make a comedy film, you are not considered a good director. They just look at you as someone who makes buffoonery. This is the kind of attitude people have in the film fraternity. But the moment you make a serious film, people think, 'This man can direct'," the Bhooth Bangla director concluded.

Bhooth Bangla screenwriter Rohan Shakar expressed gratitude towards the film's team for the beautiful memories. The film featuring actor Akshay Kumar released on April 17, 2026.

Shakar's Instagram post read, "#BhoothBangla is releasing today. A truly special film for me. I got the chance to work with legends, learn so much, build new friendships, and laugh till my stomach hurt. Grateful to Priyan Sir, Akshay Sir and Balaji Telefilms for this opportunity (sic)."

"And a big thank you to the entire cast and crew for the beautiful memories. The film is yours now—do watch it with your family and friends. I am sure you’ll enjoy it (sic)," the post concluded.

Actor Akshay Kumar's horror comedy Bhooth Bangla recorded an advance booking of Rs 3.32 crore gross (excluding blocked seats) for its opening day in India. The film is directed by Priyadarshan and was released on April 17, 2026. Its paid previews began on April 16 from 9 pm onwards.

Bhooth Bangla is among Akshay's top post-COVID openers, ranking below films like Housefull 5 (Rs 8.02 crore), Sooryavanshi (Rs 5.35 crore), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (Rs 4.85 crore), and Samrat Prithviraj (Rs 4.68 crore), as reported by Sacnilk. However, the horror comedy remains ahead of films such as Bachchhan Paandey (Rs 3.19 crore), Ram Setu (Rs 2.32 crore), and Raksha Bandhan (Rs 1.93 crore). It also sits close to OMG 2 (Rs 3.50 crore) and Sky Force (Rs 3.82 crore), the report mentioned. 

 Bhooth Bangla also features actors Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and late actor Asrani.

Late actor Asrani, who featured in director Priyadarshan's horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, will be seen again in Haiwaan. The film also features Akshay Kumar in a key role.

In September 2025, Asrani, in an interview with BBC Hindi, confirmed collaborating with Priyadarshan in Haiwaan. He said, "Abhi shooting September mein shuru ho rahi hai. Film ka naam hai Haiwan. Priyadarshan director hai (The shooting is starting in September. The film is called Haiwaan, and it is directed by Priyadarshan)."

India Today's 2.5-rated review of Bhooth Bangla highlighted how the film falls flat at many places despite Akshay Kumar's hold on to the genre. 

A part of the review read, "Akshay Kumar appears to enjoy his role, showcasing his comfort with comedy, action, and punchlines. Yet, even his efforts cannot salvage a script that feels indulgent. Wamiqa Gabbi's character, though initially a promising mystery, is underdeveloped, and her performance appears disengaged. Similarly, Tabu, known for her ability to elevate roles, is underutilised in this narrative." 

Read the full review here. 

In an interview recently, actor Rajpal Yadav described Bhooth Bangla as something special. He asked fans to enjoy the horror-comedy, after which several other comedy films are lined up for Bollywood fans. 

He said in an interview with Pinkvilla, "After that, before Hera Pheri (3), you’ll get to watch Welcome To The Jungle, a truly mad, mad, mad film. I feel fortunate to have been part of it, where you’ll see a massive ensemble of 27 actors. Perhaps, in the last 20 years of cinema, you won’t have seen a cast this big."

Film exhibitor and producer Manoj Desai criticised Akshay Kumar's release strategy for Bhooth Bangla. Commenting on the response to paid previews, Desai said the film hasn’t opened as expected.

Desai, in an interview with Filmy Fever, said, "Pehli baat toh sabse badi complaint karni hai… maine Akshay ko try bhi kiya do-teen baar voicemail pe (I have a complaint...I sent voicemail to Akshay two-three times). He should understand this because they have stopped advance booking. Till the show comes out, they want to know first how it is going to do, and then open booking. I am totally against that. That is the only reason I am giving this interview—to protest."

After stepping away from playback singing, Arijit Singh earlier made a rare return with a special track for Bhooth Bangla, titled Tu Hi Dissda. According to sources, the singer felt an immediate connection to the composition and personally reached out to the film’s team and composer, expressing his interest in recording it.

His enthusiasm and instinct for the song reportedly impressed the makers, who were quick to bring him on board, confident that his voice would add greater emotional resonance to the film.

Earlier, in a moving note on social media, actor Akshay Kumar remembered the late actor Asrani, who plays a crucial role in Bhooth Bangla. The actor posted a picture of him reading a scene with the late comedian, and wrote a long note explaining how he got to learn a lot from him. 

Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla has recorded decent advance booking numbers for its opening day in India. The film sold 1.29 lakh tickets for 12,784 shows all across the country, grossing Rs 3.32 crore for its opening day and Rs 6.8 crore including block seats. The data was reported by the trade website Sacnilk. 

Read the full story here. 

Akshay Kumar's last film before Bhooth Bangla, Jolly LLB 3, also showed the same buzz in its pre-sales business. And the new horror-comedy is expected to fare in the same range at the box office. Combined with its paid previews on Thursday night, the film is expected to open in the range of Rs 12-15 crore nett in India on Friday. 

Read the full story here. 

Bhooth Bangla is now eyeing a decent opening at the box office in the range of Rs 12-15 crore nett - combined with the paid preview business. The film was initially expected to open in the range of Rs 20 crore nett, but mild response to its trailer and other promotional material dented the expectations. 

Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar have reunited for the horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, released in theatres on April 17, 2026 and its paid previews began on April 16 from 9 pm onwards. Early reviews on social media have been divided. While a section of users appreciated the humour elements, some viewers were disappointed with the writing.

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A fan praised Akshay Kumar's backstory in Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla. The horror comedy theatrically released on April 17, 2026.

Bhooth Bangla also features actors Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav, the late Asrani, Paresh Rawal and others.

A fan praised Akshay Kumar's backstory in Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla. The horror comedy theatrically released on April 17, 2026.

Bhooth Bangla also features actors Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav, the late Asrani, Paresh Rawal and others.

India Today gave Bhooth Bangla a 2.5 rating in its review, calling it an average watch - not memorable. A part of the review read, "There are definitely flashes of humour, but they’re fleeting. Asrani tries hard, but Rajpal Yadav and Paresh Rawal are reduced to physical comedy props, taking hits (literally) for laughs that feel outdated."

Read the full review here.

Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla has released worldwide today. It is the first major Hindi film to have hit the screens since the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge on March 19. While the Aditya Dhar directorial has almost exhausted its run at the box office, it will be interesting to see how Bhooth Bangla impacts its run from here. 

Read the box office details of Dhurandhar 2 here. 

India Today reviewer Sana Farzeen rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars for Bhooth Bangla. An excerpt from the review read, "There are definitely flashes of humour, but they’re fleeting. Asrani tries hard, but Rajpal Yadav and Paresh Rawal are reduced to physical comedy props, taking hits (literally) for laughs that feel outdated. The horror, meanwhile, relies heavily on an overbearing background score that confuses noise for tension, leaning dangerously close to Balaji Telefilms-style TV shows. The presence of a dark shadow with a look heavily inspired by Akshay Kumar's 2.0 character adds intrigue but never scares." 

Read the full review here.