Filmmaker Priyadarshan is setting the record straight. As anticipation builds for the April 2026 release of ‘Bhooth Bangla,’ the director has addressed the inevitable comparisons to his 2007 cult classic, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa.‘ In a candid clarification, he emphasized that while both films feature Akshay Kumar and a blend of “horror and humor,” the similarities end there.
Priyadarshan asks not to compare ‘Bhooth Bangla’ with ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Priyadarshan stated that ‘Bhooth Bangla’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ have totally different storylines. He expressed, “The biggest problem is expectations. I don’t want (those); it’s something I really hate.”The filmmaker shared that every film is different, and one cannot compare his upcoming movie as well. Elaborating on his stance, Priyadarshan shared, “Because basically, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ is a psychological thriller, but ‘Bhooth Bangla’ is a fantasy.”
The filmmaker further clarified, “But fantasy is based on, okay, we have a lot of superstitions in our country…A lot of people believe in ghosts, and they do a lot of rituals.”The director added that both movies are filled with horror and humor; however, the narrative approach and themes are different in each film.Talking about the song ‘Ram Ji Aakar Bhala Karenge’, about which the fans expressed that it gave a similar vibe to the ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ title track, Priyadarshan stated the similarity was deliberate. He went on to clarify that the similarity was limited to certain horror elements. The filmmaker again expressed that both projects are different.
Priyadarshan clarifies ‘Bhooth Bangla’ is not linked to ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’
In the same conversation, Priyadarshan cleared the rumors of ‘Bhooth Bangla’ being linked to ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaan 2’. He said, “I don’t want to take any credit for it. This has nothing to do with ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’.”He added that the upcoming horror film has no narrative connection with the Kartik Aaryan starrer.
More about ‘Bhooth Bangla’
Directed by Priyadarshan, the film features Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jisshu Sengupta, Manoj Joshi, Mithila Palkar, Asrani, and Rajesh Sharma. The film is scheduled to release in theaters on April 10, 2026.
