Review by – Navin Singh Bhardwaj

17 years are significant in anyone’s life and it’s been 17 long years since the first instalment of Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise released. The 2007 film, directed by Priyadarshan, saw Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan in the lead role, with Vidya’s character Avni transforming into Manjulika. This time, in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Vidya revives her character, which was missing from the second instalment. She is accompanied by Madhuri Dixit, Kartik Aaryan and Tripti Dimri.

Story

The story begins with Ruhaan’s (Kartik Aaryan) antics from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. This time, Ruhaan heads to Bengal, where Meera (Tripti Dimri) blackmails him, threatening to expose his true identity unless he helps her. The condition is that he must drive away the ghost of Manjulika from a new haveli.

Upon arrival, Ruhaan discovers that the haveli’s former prince, Devendranath, resembled him and had a sister named Manjulika. Devendranath murdered his sister due to his lust for power, trapping Manjulika’s spirit in the haveli.

As the story unfolds, it’s revealed that Devendranath had two sisters, Anjulika and Manjulika. The plot thickens with the entry of Mallika (Vidya Balan), an archaeologist, and Mandira (Madhuri Dixit), who wants to buy the haveli.

Who is the real Manjulika – Mallika or Mandira? You’ll have to find out yourself by watching the film.

Writing, Direction, and Music

After the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022, Anees Bazmee returns with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, two years later, collaborating with writer Aakash Kaushik. It’s evident that preparations for the third installment began during the second part, resulting in a mere two-year gap between the two films.

Moving on to the writing, Aakash Kaushik has penned a good script but made it slightly lengthy. Trimming it would have enhanced the experience.

Anees Bazmee excels in direction, extracting impressive performances from prominent actors like Ashwini Kalsekar, Rajesh Malik, Vijay Raj, Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra. He skillfully maintains the story’s suspense.

However, Amal Malik disappoints with the music. None of the new songs leave an impact.

The audience eagerly anticipated Madhuri and Vidya’s dance collaboration, but the song ‘Aami Je Tomar’ fails to deliver. The editing and shooting feature excessive jump cuts and close-ups, making it unengaging.

On the bright side, the film concludes with a meaningful message, broadening one’s perspective.

Performance

Kartik Aaryan has once again brought life to the film by embracing the spirit of Rooh Baba with his excellent comic timing. Watching Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan in a completely new avatar is a treat.

With such talented actors coming together, you might forget that Tripti Dimri is also part of the film. Tripti’s character as the love interest is almost negligible, making her presence feel inconsequential. It seems Tripti had anticipated this, hence her absence from most promotions.

The supporting cast, including Arun Kushwaha, Manish Wadhwah and Bengali actor Kanchan Mulchandani, deliver impressive performances.

Final Verdict

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is an entertaining film, perfect for Diwali. Watch it for its comedy, drama, and fun.