The Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise has risen to remarkable heights, with its second and third installments starring Kartik Aaryan solidifying its place as a major success over the last four years. However, the roots of the franchise trace back to its 2007 origin, directed by Priyadarshan, which featured Akshay Kumar as the iconic ghostbuster. Recently, in an interview, Akshay shared why he wasn’t part of the subsequent films. 

Akshay says he was removed from Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise

During an interview with Pinkvilla, Akshay interacted with fans. One admirer said that he skipped the second and third parts because Akshay wasn’t involved. When asked why he didn’t reprise his role, Akshay simply smiled and said, “Beta mujhe nikaal dia tha (I was removed). That's it.” 

On why Akshay is doing less comedies

The fan also brought up a noticeable shift in Akshay’s filmography, questioning why the actor has cut back on comedic roles in the last decade. Responding in Hindi, Akshay explained, “That's true. I've done less comedies. I've done a lot of social films, whether it's Sarfira (2024), Airlift (2016), Rustom (2016), Padman (2018), and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017). Because I wanted to do it. I'd done a lot of comedies in the past. Every person has a mindset at a particular time, what he wants to do. So I wanted to do that. But now, I've signed about 2-3 comedies which I'm filming, like Bhooth Bangla, Welcome (to the Jungle), and Housefull (5).” 

About Bhool Bhulaiyaa

The Bhool Bhulaiyaa series, produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, began with the 2007 film featuring Vidya Balan as the unforgettable Manjulika. The sequel, released in 2022 and directed by Anees Bazmee, introduced Kartik Aaryan as Rooh Baba, along with Kiara Advani and Tabu, who portrayed the twin sisters Manjulika and Anjulika. Last year’s threequel saw Kartik reprising his role, with Vidya Balan returning to the franchise. The cast also included Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri in pivotal roles. 

Meanwhile, Akshay has re-teamed with Priyadarshan for the upcoming horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, set to hit cinemas next year.