Bhooth Bangla marks the return of superstar Akshay Kumar to the horror-comedy genre, and the trailer hints at a powerful blend of spooky drama, classic humor, hilarious scenes, and stunning VFX. Starring all the iconic actors in a horror-mystery tale with a touch of comedy, the Priyadarshan-directed film brought together every element that makes a powerful horror-comedy entertainer.
The film is set against the haunted backdrop of Mangalpur village. Here, a scary monster, Vadhusur, abducts newly-married brides. And this has made weddings impossible in the village. The plot promises spooky chills, but it soon shifts to London, introducing Arjun (Akshay Kumar), who plans his sister Meera’s (Mithila Palkar) wedding to Rahul (Perin Malde).
And the story takes a big turn when Arjun comes to Mangalpur for his sister’s destination wedding at the Palace, which is referred to as “Bhooth Bangla” by the locals. Shantaram, played by Asrani, warns Arjun, but Arjun ignores him, while the locals try to make him understand that a wedding in Mangalpur is impossible because the monster Vadhusur takes away the brides. In parallel, it introduces the female lead, Wamiqa Gabbi, who is searching for her missing sister, who went missing under similar circumstances.
With Arjun’s unexpected connection to the Palace and scary past, curiosity peaks with the series of incidents unfolding in the Palace. The storyline seems to blend Bhool Bhulaiya, Stree, and Munjya—in all these stories, the monster becomes a monster just because of a failed love life.
The horror-comedy tries to deliver spooky chills alongside genuine laughs, but entertains only in parts. The film has an intriguing premise and genuinely laugh-out-loud moments of camaraderie among Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, and Arsani, but after a certain point, the jokes become repetitive and, at times, feel forced.
Undoubtedly, Akshay Kumar rules with his comic timing. But the actor couldn’t fully save it, struggling to impress. iwers. Tabu’s character brings a different layer. She does her part well, which helps to keep viewers invested. Her performance is exceptional as always.
Visually, the film scores high with its stunning VFX and eerie setting, but it couldn’t leave a lasting impact due to an uneven balance of spookiness and laughs. The first half of the film is good, with more comic scenes, while the second half emphasizes the horror. Overall, if you are an Akshay Kumar fan, it is a good one-time watch, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impact like other horror-comedy films have; it falls short of hitting the right spot.
IWMBuzz rates Bhooth Bangla 2.5 out of 5 stars!
