Mumbai

Producer Ektaa Kapoor says the decision to release her upcoming film Bhooth Bangla shortly after two major action spectacles — Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups — was deliberate and strategic.

Aditya Dhar’s “Dhurandhar 2”, the sequel to the 2025 blockbuster that reportedly earned over ₹1,300 crore worldwide, is set for a box office clash with “Toxic”, headlined by Kannada star Yash, on March 19. In contrast, “Bhooth Bangla”, a horror-comedy directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar, will hit theatres on April 10.

Kapoor said the gap in release dates allows the big-ticket action films to complete their initial theatrical run, while positioning her film as alternative family-friendly entertainment.

“By the time we release our film, both ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Toxic’ would’ve had a good run. Our film is coming during a holiday period when exams in many schools would be over. But most importantly, families enjoy watching these kinds of films. The idea is to bring a different kind of entertainment — there should be variety for audiences,” Kapoor told PTI during a media interaction.

“Bhooth Bangla” marks a reunion between Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar after a 14-year hiatus. The film is presented by Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Kumar’s production banner Cape of Good Films.

Calling the actor-director duo “soulmates,” Kapoor said she was keen to bring them back together for what she describes as a “vintage” Priyadarshan-Akshay collaboration.

“When we wrote ‘Bhooth Bangla’ and went to Akshay sir, he liked the script. The only thing we told him was that we wanted Priyadarshan to direct it, and he instantly agreed. We then took it to Priyadarshan sir, who loved the script and made certain changes,” she said.

The ensemble cast also includes Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Tabu and Rajpal Yadav, along with a posthumous appearance by veteran actor Asrani, who passed away in October 2025.

“The combination of Rajpal Yadav, Asrani, Paresh Rawal, Tabu and Akshay sir in Priyadarshan’s zone is deadly,” Kapoor said, expressing confidence in the film’s comic appeal.

When asked whether “Bhooth Bangla” could evolve into a franchise, Kapoor said such decisions depend on audience response. “Franchises are not planned. If it works, it becomes a franchise,” she said.

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With action dramas dominating March, Kapoor is betting on nostalgia, humour and family appeal to carve out space for her horror-comedy in April.