Bhoot Bangla Review: Akshay Kumar is Back in Form in This Nostalgic Horror-Comedy

Sixteen years after their last collaboration, Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan return together with Bhoot Bangla a Hindi horror-comedy that leans heavily into old-school slapstick, supernatural mythology, and the kind of ensemble chaos that once made their earlier films beloved by audiences across generations.

Officially titled Bhooth Bangla (translated as Haunted Mansion), the film is directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Akshay Kumar, Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor under Balaji Motion Pictures in association with Cape of Good Films. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Jisshu Sengupta, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi, and released theatrically on April 17, 2026.

About Bhoot Bangla Movie

Bhooth Bangla is a horror-comedy rooted in Indian mythology and black magic, drawing inspiration from ancient texts including the Vedas and the Mahabharata. The story follows a man who inherits a mysterious palace in rural Mangalpur and plans his sister’s wedding there, only for strange supernatural events to unfold as locals panic forcing him to uncover the dark secrets of the past.

The narrative is built around the eerie legend of Vadhusur and a village long possessed by a dark presence, including the haunted bungalow at the centre of the story. Beneath the horror lies an intriguing backstory that slowly reveals itself, adding emotional weight to the proceedings.

This marks Priyadarshan’s second Hindi-language horror-comedy following Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) both of which feature Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani, and Manoj Joshi. It is also the seventh collaboration between Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan, coming 14 years after Khatta Meetha (2010).

The film was shot across multiple locations including London, Jaipur, Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad, with principal photography completing in May 2025. The soundtrack was composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Kumaar, and the music rights were acquired by Zee Music Company.

Bhoot Bangla Reviews and Ratings

Bollywood Hungama – 3.5/5 The publication called Bhooth Bangla a fair entertainer that works best through its humour, performances, and old-school Priyadarshan-style chaos. The first half was praised as highly enjoyable and packed with laughs, while the second half was noted to lose steam due to an underwhelming backstory and an overlong climax. Bollywood Hungama (Source: bollywoodhungama.com)

Trade Analyst Ramesh Bala – 4/5 South Indian trade analyst Ramesh Bala rated the film four stars, describing it as a layered supernatural tale that blends fear with humour in a way that keeps audiences invested. He particularly noted how the film explores the unusual relationship between the ghost and the living characters. Republic World (Source: republicworld.com)

Filmibeat / Early Audience Preview – 4/5 An early reviewer described the film as a solid horror-comedy with twists, laughs, and jump scares, praising a fun first half and a gripping second half, while calling out Akshay Kumar’s performance and the contributions of Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav. Filmibeat (Source: filmibeat.com)

Bhoot Bangla Movie Key Highlights

• Akshay Kumar’s comic timing was singled out as the film’s biggest strength, with reviewers noting he enhances several scenes, including performing well in dramatic moments too.
• Rajpal Yadav dominates key sequences in the first half, with his back-and-forth exchanges with Akshay described as arguably the best part of the film.
• Paresh Rawal contributes warmly to the ensemble chaos, while the late Asrani’s funny scenes in the first half were called memorable.
• Mithila Palkar was noted to have the best role among the female cast, while Tabu, though arresting, has limited screen time. Wamiqa Gabbi’s track was described as forced and not contributing much to the narrative.
• Priyadarshan’s direction ensures the humour lands well, evoking nostalgia for his earlier hits like Hera Pheri(2000), Hungama (2003), and Hulchul (2004) through physical comedy and character-driven misunderstandings.
• The film received a UA 16+ certificate from the CBFC with a final runtime of approximately 164 minutes after voluntary cuts were approved on April 11, 2026.
• Singer Arijit Singh contributed to the soundtrack, approaching the makers himself after feeling a strong personal connection to the track “Tu Hi Disda”, released on March 24, 2026.

Bhoot Bangla Cast and Crew

Release and OTT Details

Takeaway

Bhoot Bangla arrives as one of the most keenly anticipated Hindi releases of 2026, fuelled largely by the nostalgia of watching Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan back together in their preferred territory of horror-comedy. Early critical response suggests the film delivers on its core promise Akshay Kumar is in strong form, the humour is Priyadarshan at his most familiar, and the ensemble cast adds considerable depth. Where it falls short is in its second half, which reviewers have consistently flagged as uneven, with a backstory that doesn’t fully match the energy of its lively opening.

For audiences who grew up watching this director-actor duo’s earlier work, Bhoot Bangla is likely to satisfy as a theatrical experience. Families, genre fans, and casual moviegoers looking for a big-screen entertainer this summer will find enough to enjoy even if the film doesn’t quite reach the heights of the classics it draws inspiration from.