The king of comedy is back, and he is taking his time to ensure every punchline lands. In a move that has surprised many industry insiders, Akshay Kumar’s upcoming horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla is reportedly clocking in at a massive 2 hours and 50 minutes (170 minutes).
This reunion between Kumar and veteran director Priyadarshan marks their first collaboration in 14 years, and they aren’t holding back. While modern Bollywood films have trended toward shorter, snappier runtimes, Bhooth Bangla is embracing a “mega-feature” length reminiscent of the filmmaker’s early 2000s hits like Hera Pheri and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
A Massive Cast for a Massive Story
The extended runtime is largely attributed to the film’s sprawling ensemble cast. Priyadarshan has assembled his “A-team,” featuring comic legends Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani and Manoj Joshi.
Joining the veteran squad are Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Mithila Palkar, ensuring that the narrative has multiple threads of mystery and humor to explore. Sources close to the production suggest that the nearly three-hour duration allows each character enough “screen breathing room” to deliver the slapstick and situational comedy the duo is famous for.
Breaking the “Short Film” Trend
For Akshay Kumar, this is a significant departure from his recent filmography. Over the last decade, most of his projects have wrapped up well under the 150-minute mark. To find a similar runtime in his career, one would have to look back to 2014’s Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty.
The decision to keep the film lengthy suggests a deep, plot-heavy mystery within the haunted mansion, rather than just a series of disconnected gags.
Release Date Shuffle
Despite the excitement, the road to the theater has seen some bumps. Originally slated for a mid-May release, the date was preponed to April 10, only to be moved again recently.
The shift to April 17 was reportedly made to avoid a direct clash with Ranveer Singh’s action-packed Dhurandhar 2, giving the haunted haveli enough space to capture the box office.
What to Expect?
Produced by Ekta Kapoor and Akshay Kumar himself, Bhooth Bangla isn’t just a remake of the 1965 classic but a fresh take on the “fantasy-horror” sub-genre. With music by Pritam and a background score by Ronnie Raphael, the film aims to balance genuine chills with the loud, chaotic comedy that defined the 2000s era of Bollywood.
As the trailer launch approaches in early April, fans are bracing themselves for a long but promising stay at the Bhooth Bangla. To know such latest
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