Why Akshay wasn't in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' sequels

Actor breaks his silence on reboots of old horror film

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Akshay Kumar finally broke his silence on why he wasn't in the Bhool Bhulaiyaa sequels. When a fan expressed that he didn't watch the second and third installments because Akshay wasn't in them, the 57-year-old actor simply revealed, "I was removed. That's it."

While Akshay didn't have much to say on the matter, fans online resonated with the one who posed the question. "I thought I was the only one who didn't watch 2 and 3 because Akshay wasn't there," a user on Instagram wrote. "That was a truly iconic movie. Even after making so many parts, they couldn't match up to its level without Akshay," expressed another.

Replacing Akshay's eccentric yet lovable protagonist Dr Aditya in the franchise is Karthik Aaryan's playful Ruhan, who leads the cast in both Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Karthik discussed picking up the baton after the renowned Indian actor. "I have always been a huge fan of Akshay. I don't see myself on the same level as him. I've watched him since I was a child, so it feels a bit strange to be compared to him," Karthik said.

Back in 2022, at the trailer launch of the second installment, director Anees Bazmee addressed the matter of Akshay and Vidya Balan's absence in the film. "Akshay is a great actor and also a good friend of mine. If only there was a way to bring him into the film even just a little, which naturally would've benefitted us too. But the script didn't grant us that opportunity," he said.

However, Vidya did make a return in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 as the haunting Manjulika. In an interview with Filmibeat, she was asked if she missed Akshay on the set. "It's a completely different team, so I don't specifically miss him," she began. "But I enjoy working with him and look forward to collaborating with him again."

Vidya added that it's always a delight to work with Akshay, due to his comical nature. Fondly calling him "crazy", she also shared that they would have a blast on set during shoots when they would just be goofing around.

Akshay is currently involved in the filming of the third installment of Hera Pheri. He reflected on the influence of the original film in his conversation with Pinkvilla, stating that he had no idea it would become culturally impactful the way it did. "I didn't understand it. I mean, I liked the film, it was funny. But for it to garner this cult following, that's something I never expected," he admitted.

Hera Pheri (2000) is a comedy about three struggling men who find themselves in a whirlwind of chaos when they accidentally discover a chance to make quick money through a ransom scheme. Aside from Akshay, the film starred Paresh Rawal, Sunil Shetty, and Tabu.

Decades down the line, the film has become a wellspring of memes that often circulate across social media platforms. Reacting to some of them, Akshay burst into laughter and shared tidbits of context. Harking back on some of his most popular memes like the famous "Jali na, jali na?", he revealed, "These were all impromptu."

He further teased that the production of Hera Pheri 3 will begin soon. "I am eagerly waiting for it to start," he said. "If all goes well, we expect to begin filming by the end of this year."