Bollywood never runs out of surprises, does it? If you love the wild stories behind blockbuster franchises, get ready for this one. Everyone remembers how Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 rocked the box office, but here’s the real jaw-dropper: Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film, Bhooth Bangla, actually started out as the first draft for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. What happened next? Akshay reunited with director Priyadarshan, dusted off the old script, and suddenly, a scrapped idea was back in the running to be the next big horror-comedy hit. Let’s get into how this tangled journey played out, from franchise shakeups to a star-studded comeback.

Think back to 2007. Akshay Kumar nailed his role in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, mixing laughs with just the right amount of creepy. Priyadarshan directed, Vidya Balan and Shiney Ahuja joined in, and the movie pulled in 49.10 crore in India, 82.35 crore worldwide. Not a massive blockbuster, but definitely a cult favorite. Akshay’s comic timing lit up the screen, and fans started buzzing about a sequel. But nothing’s ever simple in Bollywood.

Priyadarshan, the guy behind Hera Pheri and Bhagam Bhag, had a clear vision. He wanted to keep Akshay at the heart of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa universe. He even wrote a sequel draft just for him. But things stalled. T-Series, always chasing the next big thing, decided to go a different direction. They brought in Anees Bazmee, handed the lead to Kartik Aaryan, and, bam, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 dropped in 2022. The film exploded, making 185.92 crore in India and 266.88 crore worldwide. Kartik’s Rooh Baba became an instant hit, and the series was back on top.

So what happened to Priyadarshan’s sequel? Word is, creative clashes and scheduling messes got in the way. T-Series went with Bazmee’s fresh idea, which kept some nods to the original but carved out its own vibe. It was a smart move, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 not only revived the franchise, it set the stage for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Meanwhile, Priyadarshan’s script just sat there, waiting for the right moment.

Cut to 14 years after their last hit together (Khatta Meetha, anyone?), Akshay and Priyadarshan finally reunited. Priyadarshan pulled out that old sequel draft, gave it a makeover, and turned it into Bhooth Bangla, a brand-new horror-comedy about black magic and a haunted house. This time, Akshay plays a magician who gets tangled up in supernatural trouble. Classic Priyadarshan mix: laughs, frights, and a bit of chaos.

The cast? Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi. That’s some serious comedy firepower. Ekta and Shobha Kapoor are producing, with Akshay co-producing too. The story comes from Akash A. Kaushik, and Rohan Shankar’s on dialogues. The film was supposed to drop in May 2026, but they moved it up to April 10, and the buzz is building fast. Social media’s already hyped, especially with all the callbacks to Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

With Priyadarshan steering the ship and Akshay back in his element, Bhooth Bangla looks ready to take on the box office. It’s proof that Bollywood can turn an abandoned idea into the next big thing. Horror-comedies are hot right now, just look at Stree 2, and this one’s primed to spook and crack up audiences in all the right ways. As April 10, 2026, gets closer, one thing’s clear: sometimes, a forgotten script is just waiting for the perfect comeback.