Akshay Kumar Breaks Silence on Bhool Bhulaiyaa Exit as Kartik Aaryan Leads Franchise’s Box-Office Triumph

Akshay Kumar was the leading star of the highly acclaimed horror-comedy film Bhool Bhulaiyaa, which premiered in 2007 and laid the foundation for a successful franchise. Despite the enduring popularity of the original film, Akshay’s absence from the sequels, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, has fueled considerable fan discussion over the years. The actor recently addressed this topic in a conversation, revealing the reason for his non-involvement in the subsequent films.

When asked by a fan during an interaction with Pinkvilla, Akshay candidly said, “Beta, mujhe nikaal diya tha (I was removed). That’s it.” This revelation resonated with many fans, some of whom expressed that they had skipped watching the sequels because of his absence.

Although Akshay Kumar was not part of the sequels, both films achieved massive box-office success under Kartik Aaryan’s lead. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, directed by Anees Bazmee and released in 2022, introduced Kartik as Rooh Baba, a new ghostbuster, alongside Kiara Advani and Tabu portraying the twin witches, Manjulika and Anjulika. The third installment, released in 2024, saw Kartik reprising his role, with Vidya Balan returning as the original witch Manjulika. This film also featured Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri in significant roles, further diversifying the ensemble cast.

In a previous interview with Bollywood Hungama, Kartik Aaryan expressed his admiration for Akshay Kumar and the challenges of stepping into such an iconic role. “I have always been a huge fan of Akshay. I don’t see myself on the same level as him. I’ve watched him since I was a child, so it feels a bit strange to be compared to him,” he said.

While some fans felt let down by Akshay’s absence in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, they have reasons to be excited about his return to another beloved franchise. The actor confirmed his involvement in Hera Pheri 3 during the same interaction. “Even I am waiting to start Hera Pheri 3. I don’t know, but if everything goes well, it will start this year. When we started Hera Pheri, we didn’t know it would go on to become such a cult classic. Even when I watched it, I didn’t fully grasp its impact. Yes, it was funny, but none of us expected the characters of Babu Bhaiya, Raju, and Shyam to gain such legendary status,” Akshay shared.

The Bhool Bhulaiyaa series, produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, has seen significant evolution over the years, introducing fresh narratives and characters while keeping ties to its roots. Despite the success of the sequels, the 2007 original, with Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan in pivotal roles, remains a cherished favorite among fans.