With success comes sequels. A hit movie guarantees a follow-up, and as the audience’s interest grows, so does the urge to cash in further, often leading to the sequel of a sequel—or even a prequel. Some franchises like Star Wars, James Bond, Hera Pheri, Golmaal, Singham, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa have managed to keep their audiences engaged. However, only a strong story or fresh take can prevent the franchise from feeling stale when a third or fourth instalment rolls out.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is an example of stretching it too thin. Imagine a piece of chewing gum that’s lost its flavour, but one keeps chewing it out of habit. Think of that taste and an involuntary movement of your gums, and that is what Bhool Bhuliayaa-3 is.
Horror-comedy is already tough to pull off, and stretching a concept without the same bite or thrill is riskier still. Five stars to Bhool Bhuliayaa-3 for making this point brilliantly.
Launching during the Diwali weekend has worked for Bhool Bhuliayaa-3. With the Halloween vibe creeping into Indian culture, audiences were primed for something spooky. And their past association and recollection of the Bool Bhuliayaa franchise working in its favour. But the movie strains too hard to link to its predecessors.
Rooh Baba and Monjulika are back, but the “new” elements feel like recycled folklore with the occasional Bollywood tadka. Even with a solid cast, some performances fall flat. Vijay Raaz is his usual self and looks repetitive in his gestures. Saurabh Shukla tries for a Chanakya vibe where it is not required, and while Vidya Balan impresses, Madhuri Dixit feels underutilised.
The movie does manage to mislead the audience a bit, offering the expected blend of confusion and suspense. It even presents a decent progressive twist at the end of it. But the satisfaction of watching a well-made sequel to earlier Bhool Bhuliayaa is missing. It is like ordering your favourite dish in the most favourite restaurant only to find it’s not up to par. The charm is diluted, and the entertainment just about passes muster.
The movie will make money—probably even gain some popularity—but it’s unlikely to break any records. In addition to the Rooh Baba ( Kartik Arayan) and Vidya Balan – the strength lies in its unexpected comedic trio: Sanjay Mishra, Rajpal Yadav, and Ashwini Kalsekar. Their comic timing is excellent, giving the film a few lifting moments- though they remain with the definition of slapstick crude comedy.
Kartik Aaryan, as Rooh Baba, plays his role well but feels repetitive. Madhuri’s much-anticipated appearance fails to sparkle, and Tripti Dimri’s presence, while decent, drags the pace with unnecessary song-and-dance scenes. Anees Bazmee’s direction feels like a zigzag between marathon and sprint, giving the film an erratic pace that fails to settle.
The story lacks depth, and the sequence of events is haphazard. Despite attempts at twists, it is too manufactured. The trio of Mishra, Yadav, and Kalsekar carry the films with their improvised lines, trying to compensate for weak storytelling. Their comedy keeps this circus of a sequel moving, albeit with a limited payoff.
For fans of Bhool Bhulaiyaa, it’s a one-time watch—if only for the nostalgia. As for future instalments, it might be wiser to let the franchise rest unless they bring something fresh.
There’s a lesson in Bhool Bhuliayaa-3 for brand teams: sequels and spin-offs only work when they stay true to the original promise. Diluting a brand, film or product in the name of “something new” often stretches it thin.
Happy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. If you loved the earlier ones, give it a shot—but don’t hesitate to take a break when the inevitable song and dance come on.
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