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Apr 15, 2026 5:11pm IST

Box Office: Akshay Kumar- Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’ Expected to Open on par with ‘Jolly LLB 3’, ‘BMCM’

Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan's combination is considered one of the most successful partnerships in commercial Hindi cinema. The duo has delivered multiple iconic comedies over the years. With the two now reuniting after 16 years for “Bhooth Bangla,” trade experts are predicting another hit in the offing.

According to movie analytics platform RecoBee, “Bhooth Bangla” is expected to open in the range of ₹12-14 crore net on its first day. Add another ₹2-3 crore from its paid previews, which begin at 9 p.m. on April 16, and the film is poised for a solid opening at the box office. Advance bookings commenced Tuesday, and it has received an encouraging response, with momentum expected to build further in the lead-up to the release.

The opening will be more in the range of Akshay's last theatrical film, “Jolly LLB 3," which collected ₹12.50 crore net on its first day, or in the range of “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” (15.65 cr) if we include the paid previews. Although the trade had anticipated a stronger opening considering it marks Akshay and Priyadarshan's much-awaited reunion, the mixed reception to its trailer and songs has tempered the pre-release buzz. Nevertheless, it's still better than what it would have been had it been released a week earlier as initially planned because Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar's “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” has strongly maintained its domination in theatres. The new release window gives the film a better opportunity to establish itself.

The lifetime business of “Bhooth Bangla” will ultimately depend on how the film is received among audiences, but it should ideally cross the ₹100 crore net at least to break even. That target would be easy to achieve if the reception is positive, as the film has a two-week free run before Jio Studios’ “Raja Shivaji” takes over a significant share of screens on May 1. 
 
“Bhool Bhulaiyaa” remains Akshay and Priyadarshan's biggest collaborative success to date, with a net collection of ₹49.11 crore at the time of its release in 2007 — equivalent to nearly ₹170 crore when adjusted for inflation today. While that figure seems unlikely for “Bhooth Bangla," the actor and director are expecting to at least achieve a respectable total at the box office.

“Bhooth Bangla” also marks Akshay's first release of the year, and he's hoping to kick things off on a successful note. The horror-comedy, also starring Wamiqa Gabbi, Tabu, and Rajpal Yadav in lead roles, will have paid previews starting at 9 pm on April 16 followed by its full-fledged theatrical release the next day, April 17.

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