Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Fails to Match the Success of Stree 2, Struggles to Stand Out in Horror-Comedy Genre

Mumbai, 2nd November 2024: After the horror-comedy film Stree 2 made history by crossing the ₹600 crore mark, expectations were high for other films in the genre to rise to the challenge. However, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 failed to live up to the hype. The film, which attempts to follow in the footsteps of the 2007 cult classic directed by Priyadarshan, falters in delivering the same impact, proving that creating a successful sequel in this genre is no easy feat.

The Plot of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
In this latest installment, Kartik Aaryan returns as Rooh Baba, still pretending to be a ghost hunter. He is approached by Meera (played by Tripti Dimri) and her maternal uncle (Rajesh Kumar), who hail from a royal family, offering him ₹1 crore to help with a haunting at Rakt Ghat, where the ghost of Manjulika is locked away. The story takes viewers back 200 years, revealing that Manjulika was cursed and confined to a room in the Rakt Ghat mansion. A prophecy claims that someone from the royal bloodline will be reborn to free her and kill her on Durgashtami.

Rooh Baba bears an uncanny resemblance to the ancient prince, Devendra Nath, which leads the royal family’s Rajpurohit (Manish Wadhwa) to believe he is the prince reincarnated. The plot thickens as a second ghost, Anjolika (played by Madhuri Dixit), is introduced. The climax of the film attempts to deliver a twist, but instead, leaves viewers perplexed.

A Disjointed Screenplay and Direction Issues
Despite a promising premise, the execution falls flat. The film’s climax raises more questions than it answers. Key plot points, like how Mallika’s ghost manages to strike so accurately while still imprisoned or how her spirit transfers from one body to another during a ritual, are left unexplained. Akash Kaushik, responsible for the story, screenplay, and dialogues, struggled to maintain coherence, and the absence of logical connections undermines the tension and humor.

The humor, in particular, feels recycled, with many of the jokes already revealed in the film’s trailers. Attempts to balance scares and laughs, a hallmark of the horror-comedy genre, largely miss the mark. Anees Bazmee’s direction also falters in comparison to his previous work in the franchise. The romance subplot between Kartik and Tripti adds little to the story and detracts from the overall pacing. Even the iconic songs, “Ami Je Tomar” and “Hare Ram Hare Ram,” which were central to the first Bhool Bhulaiyaa, are over-relied on here, with little new music to offer.

Performances: Hit and Miss
In terms of performances, Kartik Aaryan sticks to his familiar style, occasionally dipping into his Pyaar Ka Punchnama persona. While he does manage to deliver a surprise in the climax, it isn’t enough to redeem the film. Vidya Balan, reprising her role as Manjulika after 17 years, is unable to recreate the magic of her iconic performance from the original film. Madhuri Dixit’s presence and her dance performance offer brief moments of relief, though they do little to save the overall experience.

Rajpal Yadav, returning as Chhote Pandit, disappoints, and his references to Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan fall flat. Tripti Dimri, despite her talent, is reduced to a mere decorative presence, adding little depth to her role. The misuse of the iconic song “Sandese Aate Hain” from Border also feels out of place and fails to evoke the intended nostalgia.

Verdict: A Missed Opportunity
With ticket prices soaring, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 leaves audiences feeling short-changed. While the franchise had potential to evolve, this installment misses the mark with its disjointed narrative, lackluster humor, and confusing plot twists. In a post-Stree 2 world, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 struggles to justify its place in the horror-comedy genre, offering few thrills and even fewer laughs.