Australia's most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been granted bail over alleged war crimes. The Victoria Cross recipient and former corporal in Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment was taken into custody last week, charged with five counts of the war crime of murder
Raw mangoes are far more than just the base for preserved pickles or delicious drinks; they shine equally in savoury dishes. These fruits add a bright and zesty punch to dishes that lift everyday curries and gravies. When used in a savoury curry
Watch: US Central Command releases footage of navy redirecting ship amid Hormuz blockade as Iran war stalemate persistsIt said US forces are actively enforcing blockade targeting Iran's ports and coastline, involving more than 10,000 personnel, besides naval vessels and aircraft Updated on: Apr 17
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has assured cinema owners that the company will maintain a minimum release slate of 30 films a year if regulators approve its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Skydance CEO promised movie theater owners on Thursday that the company will
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 16, 2026) announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon effective from midnight. “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel
India's government has launched a once-in-a-generation attempt to redraw the country's political map, saying it is driven by a push to reserve a third of seats for women in parliament and state assemblies. The government unveiled the proposed constitutional amendment - requiring a two-thirds
In a shocking incident from the Tamil film industry, a video from Rajinikanth’s upcoming movie Jailer 2 has been leaked online ahead of its release. While the clip is being circulated on social media platforms, the makers have issued a statement urging everyone not to use, share or repost it
As news of the ceasefire spread through Israel's northern communities, sirens blared three times this evening warning of incoming rockets from Lebanon. In the sky above the northern city of Nahariya, Israel's air defence interceptors shot up to block them, triggering loud explosions
Bhooth Bangla Review
Bhooth Bangla Review: This Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan Film Is Loud, Laboured, High On Bhool Bhulaiyaa Hangover
Bhooth Bangla Movie Review: Back in 2007, Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar joined hands to helm the first horror-comedy of our times, Bhool Bhulaiyaa. It made for a unique genre-blend. It was ambitious in scope and yet never lost sight of its emotional and rooted core. The film set the stage and ushered in a plethora of other horror-comedies that Hindi filmmakers continue to place their bets on.
So, years later, when Priyadarshan and Akshay decided to reunite, a horror-comedy like Bhooth Bangla perhaps felt like the safest bet. They, after all, are the flag-bearers of this genre. But it’s this ambition that becomes their biggest block. If Bhool Bhulaiyaa dared to raise questions around mental illness under the garb of comedy, Bhooth Bangla merely reinforces blind beliefs and mumbo jumbo by making Akshay lock horns with himself.
It does end up crashing under the weight of its own lofty aspirations. Originality isn’t its strongest suit either. Priyadarshan borrows moments and tropes from his previous films – call it inspiration or a carefully disguised tip of the hat. When Akshay repeatedly thrashes Rajpal Yadav, our in-house whipping boy, for secretly looking at women and for his incompetence, you’ll immediately be reminded of Khatta Meetha.
A metal pot falling over Paresh Rawal’s head in Bhooth Bangla is perhaps an ode to Chup Chup Ke. It fits right into the film’s ‘Priyadarshan brand of comedy’ quotient. But what comes across as a complete lack of ingenious display is the phantom in Bhooth Bangla. Named Vadhusur, he has a Batman-like silhouette but also looks like Akshay’s Pakshi Rajan from 2.0 and sometimes even a goblin.
Bhooth Bangla starts off at a railway station in Mangalpur. As they wait for their train to arrive, a group of boys gather around an old man who narrate to them the story of this mystical village where weddings never happen. Each time a wedding is supposed to take place, the bride disappears. As you sit down with this information, you’re introduced to the Acharyas residing in London.
Arjun helps his younger sister Meera marry a tree on the insistence of her in-laws before their son ties the knot with her. Yes, from Mangalpur to London, regressive superstitious beliefs is a way of life for everyone. But Arjun and Meera’s lives change when they learn that their grandfather has left his palace in Mangalpur as Meera’s share of inheritance.
Arjun decides to travel to this small village and meets the manager of the palace, Shantaram. When Shantaram learns that this palace is where Meera will soon get married in, he warns Arjun of the presence of a spirit there. But he turns a deaf ear and invites wedding planner Jaggu and his nephew Balli. Vadhusur, however, has other plans. At night, he scares people off with his shadow and possesses Balli.
What it leads to is utter chaos infused with some jump scares, a teleportation (for the audience) to a different era, a love story that doesn’t render anything substantial to the plot, a cameo that goes in vain and a long-drawn AI-heavy fight sequence with Vadhusur. So, at 2 hours 45 minutes, Bhooth Bangla rarely picks up pace and suffers due to an uneven and bumpy screenplay.
But yes, there are some moments that will stay back with you. There are some jokes that truly do land. Rohan Shankar’s one-liners and exchanges born out of confusion will crack you up. Case in point: the back and forth between Akshay’s Arjun and Asrani’s Shantaram when he sends the latter off to the lodge to pick up his bags.
The exchanges between Akshay, Rajpal and Paresh Rawal are so wildly absurd that they instantly take you back to the effortless comic rhythm of their earlier collaborations. But does this nostalgia enough to drive a modern-day comedy? Well, times have changed but the makers of Bhooth Bangla may not agree. This film thrives on unabashed slapstick and physical comedy – people falling, tripping, getting hit, mishearing and even losing their pants.
But an unoriginal, excruciatingly predictable and threadbare plot doesn’t really let this film rise. Its loud tonality and dialogue-heavy monologue-esque narrative may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you don’t appreciate the description of a person as ‘lombdi jaisi shakal aur bachhde jaisa dil’, this isn’t for you. Oh, the magic of Neeraj Vora, who beautifully adapted, localised and contextualised Priyadarshan’s humour for the Hindi-speaking audience, can never be replicated!
The jump scares do work occasionally. Sticking to the current timeline would’ve probably helped the story remain a contained telling of horror and comedy. But the time travel in the second half is far too elaborate and distracting. The triangle between Akshay, Tabu and Jisshu U Sengupta is a rather weak arc – not enough compelling and not nearly aesthetic. It tries to resurrect old-school comedy but ends up feeling loud, exaggerated and backdated.
Akshay as Arjun is in his comfort zone here. Amid the chaos, he stands tall, bringing a lived-in ease to the madness. He elevates even the most laboured gags with his razor-sharp comic timing. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and his physical comedy is effortless and that largely lends the film a spark it tries to sustain.
If there’s genuine laughter to be found, much of the credit goes to him, Rajpal and Paresh. They’re a riot. And add to that, Asrani. He plays to the gallery, going all in on the theatrics. He hams with conviction, delivering an act that’s broad and loud, and while Bhooth Bangla may not be flawless, it definitely is a fantastic goodbye to Asrani, who holds it the fort together.
But it’s the women in the film, who get ghosted. Wamiqa Gabbi, who plays a double role, is reduced to a decorative presence. She gets shortchanged and so does Tabu as Yashodha. She remains under-utilised, criminally so. Mithila Palkar may appear to be the fulcrum here but she doesn’t get to do much as Bhooth Bangla is all about its men and their saviour complex.
Not all jokes and situations may land and evoke laughter, but there’s one aspect of casting that turns unintentionally comic. At 49, Jisshu plays a father-figure to Akshay, 58. There’s something inherently awkward about watching a visibly older Akshay calling him ‘papa’. This is a gag the film doesn’t intend but one that keeps repeating.
Bhooth Bangla doesn’t reinvent the horror-comedy wheel and often feels too noisy and garish for its own good. It has all the tropes a horror flick can boast of – strange shadows, creeping footsteps, terrifying howls, rustling leaves, creaking doors, you name it. And then there’s a palace which is a ghost’s favourite place to live. But thankfully, this time, we’ve a male ghost as opposed to a dancing female spirit.
In flashes, Bhooth Bangla taps into a certain nostalgic absurdity, particularly in its more playful, slapstick stretches. It also has a Bhool Bhulaiyaa hangover. There’s an Aami Je Tomar-esque song capturing classical love. The interval block of Bhooth Bangla will remind you of a brand of comedy Bollywood once thrived on, but if you overstay, you’ll realise that much like yourself, the film is also struggling to not zone off.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Bhooth Bangla trailer Mithila Palkar to play Akshay Kumar’s sister in Bhooth Bangla First song of Bhooth Bangla Out Akshay Kumar & Shikhar Dhawan add the Cricket fever on Bhooth Bangla sets Akshay Kumar and Bhooth Bangla team wish Priyadarshan with birthday tributes Akshay Kumar shares his most ‘favourite selfie’ at Bhooth Bangla trailer launch Janhvi Kapoor Condemns ‘Barbaric’ Lynching Of Dipu Chandra Das In Bangladesh US lawmaker condemns killing of Hindu garment factory worker in Bangladesh TMC-sponsored Bangla Pakkho claimed 50 deaths PM Modi calls for regaining Rabindranath Tagore's 'Sonar Bangla' in letter to Bengal ahead of polls
Assam HS result 2026 will not be announced today, April 17, Cabinet Minister for Higher and School Education Ranoj Pegu has confirmed. Despite several social media posts claiming that the Class 12 Assam results would be declared today, the minister has dismissed the circulating online news as a
3 minutes ago
A Democrat-backed measure to constrain US President Donald Trump's ability to wage war with Iran has once again failed in the House of Representatives, just a day after a similar resolution was blocked in the Senate. The House war powers resolution, which failed in a tight vote of 213-214
3 minutes ago
Wipro’s promoter group plans to participate in the company’s Rs 15,000-crore share buyback announced on April 16, CFO Aparna Iyer said. The IT major on Thursday said its board has approved its largest-ever buyback via the tender route, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of
3 minutes ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stood up to make a crucial point in the Lok Sabha on Thursday—one that the government clearly believes could blunt a growing political attack. His assurance was simple: when the House expands to 850 members, every state will get about 50% more seats
3 minutes ago
From actor to TN DCM: the rise of Udhayanidhi Stalin as a third-generation political leader in the DMK | 5 factsUdhayanidhi Stalin, a third-generation leader of the DMK, has transitioned from film to politics with remarkable speed. Here are 5 key facts you need to know. Published on: Apr 17
3 minutes ago
Last August, U.S. Navy officials carrying out a test of unmanned vessels realised they had hit a single point of failure: Starlink. A global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network affecting millions of Starlink users had left two dozen unmanned surface vessels bobbing off the
3 minutes ago
Gold prices fall amid US war on Iran, 24K at ₹1.53 lakh; check latest rates in your cityOver the past week, 24-carat gold has eased by 0.41%, while it is down 5.74% over the past month. Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 10:57 AM IST By hindustantimes.com Share via Copy link Gold prices declined on Friday
3 minutes ago
World Hemophilia Day is a globally recognised event observed every year on April 17 to raise awareness about hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. The day was initiated in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) to celebrate the birthday of its founder, Frank Schnabel
3 minutes ago
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a gathering, said, "Their (BJP) plan is to bring in the NIA, detonate the bomb, and then blame it on someone else. They'll bring in some people from outside, accuse you, and arrest the boys tomorrow. It's just a matter of a few days. Be patient
3 minutes ago
New Delhi: The government is likely to roll out production-linked incentives to boost mobile phone exports from the country by May with an outlay of over USD 5 billion, about Rs 46,000 crore, sources aware of the development said. The Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (LSEM) was
3 minutes ago
A single dad in Tennessee started filming himself cooking meals for his two young kids. But somewhere along the way, something much bigger happened. His videos have become a space where people show up, open up, and feel a little less alone. As reported on Today.com, Blake
3 minutes ago
In Berlin, a wall comes downThe appointment of Marie-Louise Eta is a significant shift in a sport not very amenable to change Published on: Apr 17, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Dhiman Sarkar Share via Copy link “Every women who has decided to play soccer
3 minutes ago
BDS student death: Extortion case booked against loan appBDS student death: Extortion case booked against loan app Published on: Apr 17, 2026 11:14 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Kannur , A case of extortion was booked against an online loan app on Friday for allegedly mentally harassing and
3 minutes ago
Babil Khan shares memory of Irrfan caring for wife Sutapa during cancer battle: ‘Used to tie his phone to his head’Babil Khan honours his late father, Irrfan Khan, by sharing intimate memories and photographs that reveal the family's resilience during tough times. Apr 17, 2026
3 minutes ago
At the age of 13, Ashwin Srisailam had already chosen a spiritual path that would carry him from a monastery in Andhra Pradesh to the private lives of pop icon Michael Jackson and Rick Allen, the legendary one-armed drummer of Def Leppard. Now 46
3 minutes ago
Tamannaah Bhatia comforts emotional fan who breaks down in tears during meet. WatchTamannaah Bhatia, recognizing a fan's emotional distress during a public appearance, requested paparazzi to dim lights to help her regain composure. Apr 17, 2026
3 minutes ago
BPSC 71st Mains Admit Card 2026 releasing today at bpsc.bihar.gov.in, here's how to downloadBPSC 71st Mains Admit Card 2026 has been released. Candidates to download the hall ticket given here. Published on: Apr 17, 2026 11:14 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy link
3 minutes ago
Petrol, diesel prices on 17 April: Petrol and diesel prices at state-run outlets remain largely unchanged on Thursday, 17 April, in India’s domestic market. However, aviation fuel and commercial gas prices continue to reflect earlier volatility caused by the disruption in energy supply chain due
3 minutes ago
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram criticizes the government's proposed Delimitation Bill. He likens it to an insurance sales pitch where assurances differ from the fine print. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed concerns about the bill potentially harming Southern states' representation
3 minutes ago
The Commission for Air Quality Management on Thursday imposed Stage I measures under the Graded Response Action Plan in the National Capital Region after air quality slipped into the “poor” category. GRAP is a set of incremental anti-pollution measures that are triggered to prevent further
3 minutes ago
Four collision avoidance manoeuvres (CAM) were performed for Geo-synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, while 14 CAMs, including one for the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), were performed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. New Delhi: More than 1
3 minutes ago
Gilbert Arenas bizarre Kim Kardashian analogy on Doc Rivers' Bucks exit goes viralThe Milwaukee Bucks' firing of Doc Rivers has sparked debate, particularly through Gilbert Arenas' podcast. Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 8:32 AM IST Edited by HT US Desk Share via Copy link Firing of Doc Rivers by the
3 minutes ago
‘Zero connection with Jeffrey’: Trump denies Epstein link claims about Melania, calls it fake newsOn his differences with Pope, Trump insisted there was no personal conflict, even as he disagreed with the Pope’s stance on Iran. Published on: Apr 17
3 minutes ago
More AI, less UI: Canva’s Cliff Obrecht underlines a result oriented pivotObrecht is describing what is not simply a refreshed feature set, but a structural shift in how Canva sees relevance Published on: Apr 16, 2026 6:37 PM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link Amidst a flurry of
3 minutes ago
What does it take for a chef to make it to the world’s most influential list, and still have people waiting endlessly for a table? For Vikas Khanna, it is not just about what’s plated, it is about what’s shared. Named among the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2026
3 minutes ago
Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran passed away here on Thursday. He was 77 and is survived by his wife and two children. Ramachandran, who had a long and distinguished career as a sports administrator, headed the IOA from 2014 to 2017 after previously serving as
3 minutes ago
CBSE has instructed schools to exercise strict caution, as errors in LOC submission may lead to disqualification or subject mismatch during the examination process. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the Class 10 results 2026 on April 15
3 minutes ago
