Our Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 movie review verdict: it is a satisfying horror comedy carried by Tabu’s double role and Kartik Aaryan’s energy as Rooh Baba. Directed by Anees Bazmee and released on 20 May 2022, it grossed about Rs 266.88 crore worldwide and now streams on Netflix. It is worth a watch for its comedy more than its scares.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 arrived 15 years after Priyadarshan’s 2007 film with Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan. It is not a direct sequel. It keeps the haveli, the spirit named Manjulika and the famous title track, but tells a new story with new characters. It went on to become one of the biggest Hindi hits of 2022 and led to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 in 2024.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2: quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release date | 20 May 2022 |
| Director | Anees Bazmee |
| Writers | Aakash Kaushik (story, screenplay), Farhad Samji (dialogue) |
| Cast | Kartik Aaryan, Tabu, Kiara Advani, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra |
| Music | Pritam, with Tanishk Bagchi on the title track |
| Box office | Rs 221.33 crore India net, Rs 266.88 crore worldwide (Bollywood Hungama) |
| Where to watch | Netflix |
What the story is about
Reet Thakur (Kiara Advani) meets Ruhaan Randhawa (Kartik Aaryan), a carefree young man, on a trip. When a twist of fate leaves her family believing she is dead, she secretly hides in her family’s abandoned haveli in Bhawanigarh, Rajasthan, to escape an unwanted engagement. Ruhaan goes along with her plan.
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The haveli has been sealed for 18 years because the spirit of Manjulika is said to be trapped inside one room. To keep people away, Ruhaan poses as a psychic called Rooh Baba. The trick works too well, and soon the whole village and the Thakur family, led by Thakur Vijender Singh (Milind Gunaji), believe in his powers. Things get complicated when the locked room is opened.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 movie review: what works
Tabu is the best thing in the film
Tabu plays twin sisters, Anjulika and Manjulika, and switches between them with total control. She is funny in some scenes and genuinely scary in others. Comparisons with Vidya Balan’s iconic Manjulika were bound to happen, and Tabu holds her own without copying it.
Kartik Aaryan’s Rooh Baba
Kartik Aaryan gives the film its energy. His Rooh Baba is cheeky, quick with lines and easy to like. He also handles the dance sequences and the climax well. The film proved he could lead a big commercial entertainer on his own.
The comedy track
Rajpal Yadav as Chhote Pandit and Sanjay Mishra as Bade Pandit bring back the slapstick that fans loved in the first film. Their scenes, along with Ashwini Kalsekar as Panditayeen, get some of the biggest laughs. Writer Aakash Kaushik keeps the familiar beats while changing the characters, and the film leans on humour more than emotion.
What does not work
Kiara Advani does what she can, but Reet is the weakest written role, with little to do beyond setting the plot in motion. The horror also relies on old genre tricks like possessed characters walking backwards. The second half drags in places before the climax picks things up again.
Most critics agreed the film is funnier than it is scary and that it works as a crowd-pleaser rather than a classic. It does not match the original’s psychological depth, but it does not try to.
Music
Pritam’s soundtrack, with the reworked title track by Tanishk Bagchi, helped the film a lot. The new version of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa song, with Kartik Aaryan’s hook step, became a party favourite and kept the film in the news before and after release. Sandeep Shirodkar’s background score works well in the scarier scenes.
Box office performance
The film opened at about Rs 14.11 crore on its first day and made Rs 55.96 crore in its opening weekend. It went on to earn Rs 221.33 crore net in India and Rs 266.88 crore worldwide, per Bollywood Hungama. That made it the fourth highest grossing Hindi film of 2022 and a big win for Bollywood at a time when many Hindi films were struggling.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and the franchise in 2026
The success led to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, again directed by Anees Bazmee, which released on Diwali, 1 November 2024. Kartik Aaryan returned as Rooh Baba, with Vidya Balan back in the franchise, Madhuri Dixit joining and Triptii Dimri as the female lead. It crossed Rs 400 crore worldwide by trade estimates and is the biggest film in the series. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 streams on Netflix, where it arrived on 27 December 2024.
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Verdict
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a fun, light horror comedy that is best watched with family or friends. Come for Tabu, stay for Rooh Baba and the pandits. Rating: 3 out of 5.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 worth watching?
Yes, if you enjoy horror comedy. Tabu’s double role and Kartik Aaryan’s performance make it entertaining, though the scares are mild.
Where can I watch Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2?
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 streams on Netflix in India. It started streaming there on 19 June 2022.
Is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 a hit or flop?
It was a hit. The film earned Rs 266.88 crore worldwide and was the fourth highest grossing Hindi film of 2022.
Is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 connected to the first film?
It is a standalone sequel. It shares the idea of Manjulika, the haveli and the title song, but has a new story and characters.
Sources: Wikipedia: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Wikipedia: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, JustWatch India.
