Booth Bangla, the much-anticipated reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan, proved to be a huge success. As their last collaboration after over 10 years with a horror comedy, the two actor-director duo struck the right chord with the audience, and it became one of the top Bollywood movies of the year.
Now, after a successful theatrical run, Bhooth Bangla is ready to make its OTT debut on Netflix. While the makers did not give an exact date, we are told that the movie will be released on Netflix on June 12. We also hear that Netflix acquired the digital rights of the film for Rs. 60 crore.
Based on a budget of nearly Rs 120 crore, Bhooth Bangla is a box office hit and has achieved Rs 239.51 crore worldwide in its run (Indian and international) so far. The film is still playing in cinemas after almost two months; it is popular because it is a family movie and horror comedy, and the horror genre is very popular in India.
The movie is based on Arjun Acharya (played by Akshay Kumar), an NRI who returns to his ancestral village after his sister Meera (Mithila Palkar) has inherited the old house of their grandfather in Mangalpur. Arjun wants to turn it into a wedding place, so he throws a big family celebration. But things go wrong when their father, Dr Vasudev Acharya (Jisshu Sengupta) warns him to stay away.
The mystery surrounding the ancestral property slowly unfolds as the family learns about a terrifying demon named Vadhusur, believed to abduct brides for human sacrifice. As danger starts to close in, Arjun sets out to uncover the truth behind the cursed mansion and the horrifying legend tied to it.
Apart from Akshay Kumar, Bhooth Bangla also features the cast of Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi and veteran actor Asrani in his final screen performance. The chemistry of the cast and Priyadarshan’s often funny and suspenseful mix of humour and suspense were appreciated by the audience and critics alike.
The film also generated buzz before it premiered through paid previews one day before it opened on the screens. Trade reports suggest that Bhooth Bangla made about Rs 3.50 crore on paid previews alone. The early numbers were modest compared to huge movies like Stree 2 and Dhurandhar 2, but the movie was able to go on to gain momentum with positive word of mouth and family audience support.
Hence, the makers are already thinking of a sequel. Sources close to the production said that Bhooth Bangla’s great response has led the team to expand the franchise further. Producer Ekta Kapoor loves horror comedy and wants to keep it going and add more angles and mysteries.
Interestingly, Bhooth Bangla ends on a cliffhanger, and there is still room for a second movie to come. Talks with Priyadarshan are still in the process of development for that, but fans are excited about the possibility of another spooky adventure with Akshay Kumar.
With a lucrative box office history, coming OTT and the news of a sequel, Bhooth Bangla is one of the top horror comedy movies of the year.
