Anupama Chopra reviews "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3," the latest installment in the horror-comedy franchise from director Anees Basmee starring Kartik Aaryan, alongside special appearances by Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit. This unpredictable narrative attempts to blend familiar franchise elements with an audacious new twist that proves both bold and bewildering.
The film follows Rohan/Rooh Baba (Kartik Aaryan), a fraudulent ghostbuster who arrives at a haunted haveli in West Bengal, where he encounters the mysterious Manjulika and becomes entangled in a tale of reincarnation, family secrets, and supernatural occurrences. Anupama examines how the film struggles to balance its various elements - comedy, horror, drama, and dance numbers - while analyzing the performances of its stellar cast, including a much-anticipated face-off between two of Hindi cinema's finest actors.
With lavish production design, familiar franchise tropes, and the return of iconic elements like "Ami Je Tomar," "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3" marks the third Hindi iteration of a story that began with the Malayalam classic "Manichitrathazhu." Anupama discusses the film's disjointed screenplay, its attempt at scares and humor, and its place in the evolving franchise.
