Before 'Bhooth Bangla,' revisiting box office performances of Akshay-Priyadarshan films
What's the story
On Monday, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar celebrated his 57th birthday by unveiling the title and first-look poster of his forthcoming horror-comedy film, Bhooth Bangla.
This announcement follows his memorable cameo in Amar Kaushik's recent hit Stree 2.
The upcoming project marks a significant reunion as it brings together Kumar and renowned director Priyadarshan after a 14-year hiatus.
Let's look back at their iconic collaborations.
Collaboration history
'Bhooth Bangla' is their 7th collaboration
Bhooth Bangla signifies the seventh collaboration between Kumar and Priyadarshan, a celebrated Malayalam filmmaker also known for his Hindi comedies.
Their previous partnerships have resulted in iconic films such as Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
The 2007 horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa was their first venture into this genre and proved to be their most profitable collaboration at the domestic box office, reportedly earning ₹49.1cr in 2007.
Past performances
The duo's track record at the box office
The duo's past collaborations have generally been successful at the box office.
Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, and Bhagam Bhag were all hits, while De Dana Dan and Khatta Meetha reportedly performed average.
Even Khatta Meetha, often viewed as a box office disappointment, managed to earn ₹38.66cr against a reported budget of ₹23cr.
This lukewarm response to Khatta Meetha may have contributed to the long gap between Kumar and Priyadarshan's collaborations since 2010.
Career trajectories
'Bhooth Bangla' could be a game-changer for Priyadarshan
While Kumar has consistently delivered hits since 2010, Priyadarshan's Bollywood career has been less steady.
Following Bhool Bhulaiyaa, the director experienced a series of box office disappointments with films like Mere Baap Pehle Aap, Billu, Bumm Bumm Bole, Aakrosh, Tezz, Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal and Rangrezz.
His last theatrical release in Bollywood was Rangrezz in 2013.
Eight years later he directed Hungama 2—a remake of his own film Minnaram—which was released directly on OTT and received negative reviews.
Production details
'Bhooth Bangla' is co-produced by Ektaa R Kapoor
Bhooth Bangla is co-produced by Ektaa R Kapoor.
The horror-comedy genre has recently gained popularity among audiences, with films like Munjya and Stree 2 achieving significant success.
Fans and industry insiders are hopeful that Bhooth Bangla will mark a positive turning point in both Kumar's and Priyadarshan's careers.
Other updates about the additional cast and crew are awaited.