Genre: Horror/Comedy
Release Date: 2024
Language: Hindi
Introduction
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (transl. Labyrinth 3) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language comedy horror film directed by Anees Bazmee, written by Aakash Kaushik, and produced by T-Series Films and Cine1 Studios. As the third installment of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, following the 2007 and 2022 films, it features an ensemble cast led by Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, and Triptii Dimri. Set in Kolkata, the film blends elements of comedy and horror against a historical and cultural backdrop.
Development and Production
The film was officially announced in March 2023, with principal photography conducted from March to September 2024 across Mumbai, Kolkata, Orchha, and Leh. With cinematography by Manu Anand, the production spanned several visually striking locations. The film was released theatrically on November 1, 2024, coinciding with Diwali, ensuring a festive audience.
Box Office Performance
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 garnered mixed reviews from critics but emerged as a box office success, grossing over ₹417 crore (US$49 million) worldwide. It became the second highest-grossing Hindi film and the fifth highest-grossing Indian film of 2024.
Plot Synopsis
The Curse of Manjulika
In 1824, the Maharaja of Rakhtghat burns his daughter Manjulika alive after discovering her dancing without permission. Returning as a vengeful spirit, Manjulika kills the king and his accomplice.
Ruhaan’s Deception and Unveiling
In 2024, Ruhaan Randhawa, a self-proclaimed ghostbuster, is coerced into visiting Rakhtghat by Meera’s uncle. Upon arriving, Ruhaan discovers he resembles Prince Debendranath from 1824, leading the royal family to believe he is the prince’s reincarnation.
The Haunting
The royal palace is plagued by Manjulika’s spirit, forcing the family to live in a horse barn. The Rajpurohit warns against opening Manjulika’s room, but desperation leads them to restore the palace for sale. Mallika, the restoration team leader, begins showing signs of possession, intensifying the tension.
The Truth Unfolds
Ruhaan learns the real ghost is Prince Debendranath, who was burned alive for cross-dressing and defying societal norms. Manipulated by his sisters Manjulika and Anjulika for the throne, Debendranath’s spirit exacts revenge by haunting their reincarnations, Mallika and Mandira.
Exorcism and Revelation
Ruhaan and the Rajpurohit, armed with sacred oil, exorcise Debendranath’s spirit during Durgashtami. The prince’s spirit finds peace after confronting his past, revealing his tragic story and motivations.
Mid-Credit Scene
The mid-credit scene adds a humorous twist as Mandira is revealed to be ACP Rathore, an undercover cop sent to arrest Ruhaan for his fraudulent ghostbusting acts. Ruhaan faints upon discovering this, leaving the audience with a cliffhanger and a dose of comedy.
Conclusion
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 combines historical intrigue, supernatural thrills, and comedic elements, supported by a stellar cast and a gripping narrative. Its success solidifies its place as a celebrated entry in the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise.
About Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie in Details 2024
Introduction
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (transl. Labyrinth 3) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language comedy horror film directed by Anees Bazmee, written by Aakash Kaushik, and produced by T-Series Films and Cine1 Studios. As the third installment of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, following the 2007 and 2022 films, it features an ensemble cast led by Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, and Triptii Dimri. Set in Kolkata, the film blends elements of comedy and horror against a historical and cultural backdrop.
Development and Production
The film was officially announced in March 2023, with principal photography conducted from March to September 2024 across Mumbai, Kolkata, Orchha, and Leh. With cinematography by Manu Anand, the production spanned several visually striking locations. The film was released theatrically on November 1, 2024, coinciding with Diwali, ensuring a festive audience.
Box Office Performance
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 garnered mixed reviews from critics but emerged as a box office success, grossing over ₹417 crore (US$49 million) worldwide. It became the second highest-grossing Hindi film and the fifth highest-grossing Indian film of 2024.
Plot Synopsis
The Curse of Manjulika
In 1824, the Maharaja of Rakhtghat burns his daughter Manjulika alive after discovering her dancing without permission. Returning as a vengeful spirit, Manjulika kills the king and his accomplice.
Ruhaan’s Deception and Unveiling
In 2024, Ruhaan Randhawa, a self-proclaimed ghostbuster, is coerced into visiting Rakhtghat by Meera’s uncle. Upon arriving, Ruhaan discovers he resembles Prince Debendranath from 1824, leading the royal family to believe he is the prince’s reincarnation.
The Haunting
The royal palace is plagued by Manjulika’s spirit, forcing the family to live in a horse barn. The Rajpurohit warns against opening Manjulika’s room, but desperation leads them to restore the palace for sale. Mallika, the restoration team leader, begins showing signs of possession, intensifying the tension.
The Truth Unfolds
Ruhaan learns the real ghost is Prince Debendranath, who was burned alive for cross-dressing and defying societal norms. Manipulated by his sisters Manjulika and Anjulika for the throne, Debendranath’s spirit exacts revenge by haunting their reincarnations, Mallika and Mandira.
Exorcism and Revelation
Ruhaan and the Rajpurohit, armed with sacred oil, exorcise Debendranath’s spirit during Durgashtami. The prince’s spirit finds peace after confronting his past, revealing his tragic story and motivations.
Mid-Credit Scene
The mid-credit scene adds a humorous twist as Mandira is revealed to be ACP Rathore, an undercover cop sent to arrest Ruhaan for his fraudulent ghostbusting acts. Ruhaan faints upon discovering this, leaving the audience with a cliffhanger and a dose of comedy.
Conclusion
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 combines historical intrigue, supernatural thrills, and comedic elements, supported by a stellar cast and a gripping narrative. Its success solidifies its place as a celebrated entry in the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise.
Casting
Kartik Aaryan reprises his role as an alternate version of Rooh Baba from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. On 12 February 2024, Vidya Balan was announced to join the project as an alternate version of her iconic character, Manjulika, from the 2007 film. Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri were later confirmed as part of the cast on 21 February 2024. Rajpal Yadav returns to his memorable role as Chhota Pandit from the previous films. The supporting cast includes Vijay Raaz, Rajesh Sharma, Manish Wadhwa, Sanjay Mishra, and Ashwini Kalsekar, bringing a diverse ensemble to the film.
Filming
The film commenced principal photography with a muhurat puja on 9 March 2024, in Mumbai. Producer Bhushan Kumar clapped the inaugural shot for Kartik Aaryan, with Vidya Balan, Triptii Dimri, and others in attendance. A glimpse of the ceremony, shared by T-Series, featured Aaryan shooting the opening train sequence, captured by DOP Manu Anand.
Director Anees Bazmee encountered significant challenges during production. Despite fracturing his leg during the location recce, he underwent minor surgery and continued working from a wheelchair, showcasing his dedication.
Mumbai Schedule
The first filming schedule in Mumbai wrapped on 27 March 2024. A massive set in Film City was constructed for a grand song featuring over 1,000 background dancers, choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.
Kolkata Schedule
In April 2024, the team moved to Kolkata for the second schedule, shooting key scenes at iconic locations such as Howrah Bridge, Mallick Ghat flower market, Victoria Memorial, Park Street Graveyard, and Laha Bari. A traditional Bengali village set was also constructed for sequences in Mumbai prior to this schedule. The jugalbandi song Mere Dholna, featuring Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan, was choreographed by Chinni Prakash and became a highlight of the production.
Subsequent Schedules
Filming resumed in Mumbai on the Bengali village set in May 2024, involving Kartik Aaryan, Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, and Ashwini Kalsekar. A segment featuring Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit in matching black sarees was shot during this time.
Orchha Schedule
In July 2024, the cast and crew traveled to Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, to shoot pivotal scenes at historic landmarks like Orchha Fort, Ram Raja Mandir, Jahangir Mahal, and Kanchana Ghat on the Betwa River. These included romantic scenes, dramatic confrontations, and a portion of the action-packed climax.
Climax and Suspense
Two different climax sequences were filmed to maintain suspense around the film’s ending. After partially shooting the climax in Orchha, the team returned to Mumbai to complete it with the full cast.
Leh, Ladakh Schedule
In September 2024, a romantic track featuring Kartik Aaryan and Triptii Dimri was shot amidst the picturesque landscapes of Leh, Ladakh, marking the final touches to the production.
Production Wrap-Up
Principal photography concluded with the final scenes shot on 31 July and 1 August 2024. The elaborate planning, commitment from the cast and crew, and Anees Bazmee’s perseverance despite physical challenges underscored the monumental effort behind Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
Music
The background score for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was composed by Sandeep Shirodkar, while the soundtrack featured contributions from Tanishk Bagchi, Amaal Mallik, Sachet–Parampara, Lijo George–DJ Chetas, and Aditya Rikhari. Lyrics for the songs were penned by Sameer Anjaan, Rashmi Virag, Aditya Rikhari, Dhrruv Yogi, Som, and Pitbull. The film also included recreated versions of the “Title Track” and “Ami Je Tomar,” originally composed by Pritam for the earlier installments.
The first single, titled “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Title Track),” was released on 16 October 2024, followed by the second single, “Jaana Samjho Na,” on 22 October 2024, which was a reprised version of Aditya Rikhari’s 2022 single Samjho Na. The full album was made available on music streaming platforms on 23 October 2024.
Theatrical Release
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 had its theatrical release on 1 November 2024, coinciding with Diwali. The worldwide theatrical distribution rights were acquired by AA Films, with distributor Anil Thadani securing single-screen rights. The film’s release clashed with Singham Again. However, the film was banned in Saudi Arabia due to mentions of homosexuality, which is prohibited in the country.
Home Media
The digital streaming rights were secured by Netflix, where the film began streaming on 27 December 2024.
Reception
Box Office
The film opened with ₹36.60 crore on its first day and earned ₹110.20 crore over its opening weekend in India. By 1 December 2024, it had grossed ₹328.33 crore domestically and ₹89.18 crore internationally, bringing its worldwide total to ₹417.51 crore.
Critical Response
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 received mixed reviews from critics.
- Positive Highlights:
- Bollywood Hungama praised the film (4.5/5), highlighting its performances, script, execution, and unpredictable climax.
- Times of India (3.5/5) described it as unabashedly entertaining, with moments of laugh-out-loud humor.
- Ritika Handoo (Zee News) and Tanmayi Savadi (Times Now) noted the twist-filled climax and effective scares.
- Neutral Reviews:
- Renuka Vyavahare (Times of India) and Vinamra Mathur (Firstpost) found it entertaining but reliant on nostalgia.
- Abhimanyu Mathur (Hindustan Times) appreciated the bold climax but criticized the over-reliance on nostalgia.
- Anuj Kumar (The Hindu) praised Kartik Aaryan’s humor but noted cultural stereotyping and a lack of innovation.
- Negative Criticism:
- Shubhra Gupta (The Indian Express) and Saibal Chatterjee (NDTV) found the humor forced and the narrative uninspired, with Gupta rating it a low 1.5/5.
- Critics like Nishad Thaivalappil (News18) and Aakriti Agarwala (The Statesman) pointed out poorly developed characters, cliché jokes, and underutilized actors like Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan.
General Observations
The dynamic between Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan was considered a missed opportunity by many reviewers. However, the film’s climax and nostalgic elements received praise for engaging audiences, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the franchise.
