The Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise has achieved tremendous success with Kartik Aaryan at the helm in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Both films performed exceptionally well at the box office, with the third installment, released during Diwali 2024, going head-to-head with Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again starring Ajay Devgn.
However, fans of the original Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), led by Akshay Kumar, still hold a special place for the film that launched the series. Akshay’s absence from the sequels has sparked much curiosity, and the actor recently addressed the matter.
In an interaction with Pinkvilla, a fan mentioned they skipped watching the sequels because Akshay wasn’t in them. To this, Akshay candidly replied, “Beta, mujhe nikaal diya tha. That’s it.”
This comment sheds light on his exclusion from the subsequent films.
Earlier, Kartik Aaryan spoke to Bollywood Hungama about stepping into Akshay’s shoes for the franchise.
He shared his admiration for Akshay, saying, “I’ve always looked up to Akshay Kumar. I don’t think I’m on the same level as him. I grew up watching him, so it feels strange to even be compared to him.”
While some fans expressed disappointment over Akshay’s absence in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, they have something to look forward to with his return in Hera Pheri 3. Reflecting on the series, Akshay said, “I’m excited to begin work on Hera Pheri 3. If all goes well, we’ll start this year. When we made the first Hera Pheri, we didn’t expect it to become so iconic. Even after watching it, I didn’t realize how much characters like Babu Bhaiya, Raju, and Shyam would be loved.”
Currently, Akshay Kumar is promoting his upcoming film SkyForce and has a packed lineup, including Jolly LLB 3, Housefull 5, and Welcome to the Jungle. Additionally, he’s working on a new horror-comedy project titled Bhoot Bangla.