Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar The Revenge is doing what few films manage — it has made the entire industry stop and take notice. Now, Akshay Kumar has joined the growing list of celebrities who can’t stop talking about it. However, the Bhooth Bangla star isn’t intimidated. In a candid PTI interview, Akshay made clear exactly why he believes his April 10 release occupies a completely different universe.
Ranveer Singh has had a remarkable run in 2026. Dhurandhar The Revenge, the sequel to Aditya Dhar’s record-breaking 2025 blockbuster, has cemented itself as one of the year’s most celebrated films. Fans love it. Critics respect it. And now, even fellow superstars are publicly applauding it.
Akshay Kumar is the latest to weigh in.
Akshay Kumar On Dhurandhar The Revenge: “It’s A Great Film”
In a recent interview with PTI, Akshay was asked a pointed question — was choosing a light-hearted film like Bhooth Bangla over an action-heavy release a deliberate counter-programming decision? His answer was refreshingly direct. “There are different kinds of films being made. Dhurandhar is a great film, I’ve seen it,” he said.
However, Akshay was quick to draw a clear line between the two worlds. “Dhurandhar is an adult film, this is for kids and families,” he explained. He added that the creative decision behind Bhooth Bangla was never trend-driven. “When we made this film, we didn’t look at what the current trend is. We rather looked at whether the story was good or not.”
That confidence is telling. Most filmmakers in 2026 are chasing the spy-thriller, high-octane action wave. Akshay and Priyadarshan chose to swim against it entirely.
Priyadarshan’s Reunion With Akshay Kumar After 14 Years
Director Priyadarshan, returning to work with Akshay after 14 years, echoed a similar philosophy — but added an industry-level observation that deserves attention. “Films like Dhurandhar and Border 2 are doing extremely well, and all of a sudden when you take a break and watch something different, it is great,” he said.
Priyadarshan’s point cuts deeper than it appears on the surface. Bollywood audiences in 2026 are not a monolith. They are simultaneously packing theatres for intense, two-hero spy thrillers and craving something warmer, lighter, and family-friendly in the same month. That appetite gap is precisely where Bhooth Bangla is planting its flag.
Furthermore, the horror-comedy genre has been largely absent from mainstream Bollywood for years. This reunion is not just nostalgic — it is a genuine attempt at reviving a genre that once defined an era of mass entertainment.
Why Bhooth Bangla Could Win Where Others Won’t Even Compete
Priyadarshan made his strongest case on a point that no action blockbuster can claim. “Any parent can proudly bring their children to watch my film because I never use double meaning or vulgarity in my films. I never embarrass parents,” he stated. He called this a principle he has maintained since the very beginning of his career.
In a market where most big-ticket releases carry adult themes, that positioning is genuinely rare. Bhooth Bangla offers something Dhurandhar, for all its brilliance, simply cannot — a full-family theatrical experience where grandparents, parents, and children can sit together without hesitation.
Additionally, the film’s cast is a reunion of beloved faces. Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi join Akshay in what Priyadarshan describes as “pure entertainment.” No intensity. No moral weight. Just a well-crafted fun film built to hold attention from the first frame to the last.
Bhooth Bangla Release Date And What To Expect
Bhooth Bangla arrives in theatres on April 10, 2026. The film marks Priyadarshan’s return to the horror-comedy space he once mastered, and Akshay’s return to a genre that arguably gave him some of his most beloved early hits.
Notably, Priyadarshan’s confidence stems from something beyond box office math. He believes audience diversity is Bhooth Bangla’s greatest structural advantage. “People like to see different things. That is our biggest plus point,” he said. He added that as long as a film holds viewer attention and interest, it will find its audience — regardless of what else is running alongside it.
That is a filmmaker speaking from decades of experience. And given what Priyadarshan and Akshay built together over their earlier collaborations, dismissing that confidence would be a mistake.
