Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla has been creating curiosity ever since the actor reunited with filmmaker Priyadarshan after a long gap, promising a horror comedy flavour that audiences strongly associate with their earlier collaborations. Now, an interesting backstory has surfaced about how Bhooth Bangla actually began its journey, and it is directly connected to one of Hindi cinema’s most loved franchises, Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
The twist is that Bhooth Bangla was initially conceived as the follow up to Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), the Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan starrer that went on to become a major box office success and pop culture favourite. While the franchise eventually moved in a different direction, the original idea did not vanish. Instead, it evolved into a brand new film.
Bhooth Bangla’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 Connection
According to a source quoted by Mid Day, Priyadarshan had developed a draft for a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa soon after the first film’s success, and the director was keen that Akshay return if the story moved forward. The source said, “Priyadarshan had written a draft for a sequel. He was certain that if the franchise were to be taken ahead, it would be with Akshay. But things didn’t materialise then. Later, T-Series took the franchise forward with director Anees Bazmee and Kartik Aaryan. When Priyan sir and Akshay decided to reunite, he reworked that draft.”
The statement clarifies that the idea did not align with how the franchise eventually progressed. The Bhool Bhulaiyaa series was later revived with a new lead and a different director, resulting in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, with Kartik Aaryan fronting the films.
Why The Sequel Plan Didn’t Happen Then
The key reason Bhooth Bangla is not titled Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 comes down to the sequel not materialising at the time, after which the rights holder took the franchise ahead with a different creative team. Once that happened, Priyadarshan’s earlier draft had to be reshaped into an original project when he and Akshay decided to collaborate again.
Cast Details And What To Expect
Bhooth Bangla also features Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, and late Asrani, adding further weight to its ensemble. With Priyadarshan revisiting a concept that was once meant to expand the Bhool Bhulaiyaa universe, expectations are high for a blend of spooky elements and comedy, rooted in the filmmaker’s signature storytelling.
As the film develops, audiences will be watching closely to see how much of that early sequel DNA remains in Bhooth Bangla, and whether it can deliver the same replay value that made Bhool Bhulaiyaa a classic.
(Also read: Akshay Kumar Shares A Fun Video With Vidya Balan As A Birthday Surprise For Priyadarshan)
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