Fans of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise are thrilled to see Vidya Balan return as Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The much-awaited trailer, released recently, has reignited excitement for the iconic character, which Balan first portrayed 17 years ago. Director Anees Bazmee, in a recent interview shared insights on how he was able to bring Vidya Balan back to the role that earned her widespread acclaim.
Anees Bazmee Reveals How He Signed Vidya Balan For Manjulika After 17 Years Bazmee revealed that from the start, he believed Vidya Balan was the perfect choice for the role. He expressed, “Mujhe toh hamesha lag ra tha ki yeh Manjulika jo hai agar wo Vidya ji kar le” (I always felt that if anyone could portray Manjulika, it had to be Vidya). He praised her performance in the first film, noting that audiences loved her portrayal of the character.
Discussing how he secured Vidya Balan’s involvement in the third installment, Bazmee explained that they approached the actress with the script, which she instantly loved. He recounted, “During the narration, I gave her a 10-minute overview, eager to know her thoughts. When I finished, she was very excited and said, ‘This is going to be a lot of fun!’” Bazmee shared that Vidya’s enthusiasm during the brief narration indicated her interest in returning to the role.
Anees Bazmee emphasized how special it is to have Vidya Balan return to the Bhool Bhulaiyaa series after such a long gap, stating, “There could be nothing better than having her return to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 after 17 years. She has done a beautiful job in the film.” After a detailed narration a few days later, it was clear that Balan was fully committed to reprising her iconic role.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Murad Khetani, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is set to release in theaters on November 1. The film stars Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, Rajpal Yadav, and Madhuri Dixit alongside Vidya Balan, ensuring a star-studded cast for the eagerly anticipated release.
