Bhooth Bangla brought Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan back together for the first time in 14 years, and the horror-comedy rewarded the wait with a hit. Here are seven things to know about the film, from its cursed palace to its Netflix release.
Bhooth Bangla is a Hindi horror-comedy about a reputedly cursed palace and a demon who abducts brides. It opened in cinemas on 17 April 2026, a week later than planned to give Dhurandhar: The Revenge room, and grossed about ₹247 crore worldwide on a reported ₹120 crore budget.
Critics were split, but family audiences turned up in numbers. The film has streamed on Netflix since 12 June 2026.
Bhooth Bangla at a glance
Bhooth Bangla at a glance- Release date: 17 April 2026, with paid previews on 16 April
- Director: Priyadarshan
- Writers: screenplay by Priyadarshan, Rohan Shankar and Abilash Nair, from a story by Aakash Kaushik
- Producers: Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa Kapoor, for Balaji Motion Pictures and Cape of Good Films
- Cast: Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Mithila Palkar and Asrani
- Runtime: about 164 minutes
- Budget: about ₹120 crore
- Worldwide gross: about ₹247.28 crore
- Streaming: Netflix, from 12 June 2026
1. Bhooth Bangla reunites Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan after 14 years
This is the pair’s seventh film together and their first since Khatta Meetha in 2010. Their earlier run includes Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, some of the most rewatched Hindi comedies of the 2000s.
Akshay announced the project with a motion poster on his 57th birthday, 9 September 2024. Our report on the Bhooth Bangla first look captured the excitement around the reunion, and nostalgia for Bhool Bhulaiyaa in particular drove much of the marketing.
2. The story: a cursed palace and a bride-snatching demon
Arjun inherits Acharya Palace in the town of Mangalpur and decides to restore it for his half-sister Meera’s wedding. Locals warn him about Vadhusur, a demon who abducts brides and can only be killed by his own hand or bloodline.
Arjun meets Priya, a writer searching for her missing sister, and the wedding preparations turn into a fight for survival. True to the Priyadarshan formula, the first half is a crowded comedy of errors and the second half shifts into mystery and chaos, with a couple of late twists we will not spoil.
3. The Bhooth Bangla cast is a classic Priyadarshan ensemble
- Akshay Kumar in a dual role as Arjun Acharya and Madhav Acharya
- Paresh Rawal as Jagdish Kewalramani
- Tabu as Yashodha, Arjun’s mother, in flashback
- Wamiqa Gabbi in a dual role as Priya and Chitra
- Rajpal Yadav as Sunder “Balli” Bajwa
- Jisshu Sengupta as Dr Vasudev Acharya
- Mithila Palkar as Meera
- Asrani as Shantaram Yadav, the palace manager
Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav are both veterans of earlier Akshay and Priyadarshan comedies, so the reunion runs deeper than the lead pairing. Wamiqa Gabbi joined in October 2024, Tabu and Mithila Palkar in January 2025 and Jisshu Sengupta in March 2025.
4. It was filmed in Jaipur palaces and on a giant Hyderabad set
Shooting began in Mumbai in December 2024. A January 2025 schedule in Jaipur used Galtaji temple, Sisodiya Rani Bagh and Chomu Palace, and the climax was filmed in April 2025 on a large palace set at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. Filming wrapped in May 2025 after further work in London, Kochi and Chennai.
Sabu Cyril designed the production and Divakar Mani shot it. Pritam composed the songs, including “Tu Hi Disda”, sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi, while Ronnie Raphael wrote the background score. The first single, “Ram Ji Aake Bhala Karenge”, arrived on 26 February 2026.
5. Bhooth Bangla moved its date to avoid Dhurandhar 2
The release date changed several times. The film was first set for 2 April 2026, pushed to 15 May, then brought forward to 10 April before landing on 17 April.
The final shift followed requests from distributors and exhibitors, as The Hollywood Reporter India reported. Producer Ektaa Kapoor said exhibitors “felt that giving it a clear, uninterrupted window would be in the best interest of the industry ecosystem”, with Dhurandhar: The Revenge still dominating cinemas.
The censor board passed the film UA 16+ at 174 minutes. Voluntary cuts later brought it down to about 164 minutes.
6. Bhooth Bangla box office: a clear hit
The delay paid off. According to The Week, citing Sacnilk data, the film opened with ₹12.25 crore net in India on its first day, the third-biggest Bollywood opening of 2026 at the time behind Dhurandhar 2 and Border 2. WION reported a worldwide total of about ₹95.87 crore after the first weekend.
The final worldwide gross was about ₹247.28 crore, according to the film’s Wikipedia entry, which ranks it the fourth-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2026. Pinkvilla’s half-year report classed it as a hit, alongside Border 2.
7. Critics were divided
Bollywood Hungama gave it 3.5 out of 5 and called it a fair entertainer, while The Times of India gave 3 and liked the first half but not the overlong climax. Deccan Herald, India Today and Firstpost each gave 2.5, NDTV gave 2 and The Indian Express gave 1.5. On Rotten Tomatoes, only 17% of the 12 counted critics were positive.
The common complaints were a messy second half and too little screen time for Tabu and Jisshu Sengupta. The praise went to the cast and the old-school comic chaos, which is exactly what audiences came for.
Where to watch Bhooth Bangla in the UAE
The film began streaming on Netflix on 12 June 2026. Netflix catalogues vary by region, so check the UAE app before settling in. It suits a family movie night, though younger children may find some scenes frightening.
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Bhooth Bangla FAQs
Is Bhooth Bangla a hit?
Yes. It grossed about ₹247 crore worldwide on a reported ₹120 crore budget, and trade reports classed it as a hit.
Is Bhooth Bangla on Netflix?
Yes. It has streamed on Netflix since 12 June 2026. Check the Netflix app for availability in the UAE.
Who directed Bhooth Bangla?
Priyadarshan directed it, in his first film with Akshay Kumar since Khatta Meetha in 2010.
Go behind the scenes of Bhooth Bangla with the cast, and find more stories in our Bollywood section.