Two years after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 opened on 1 November 2024, fans are revisiting the making of the Kartik Aaryan horror comedy. Directed by Anees Bazmee, written by Aakash Kaushik, and produced by T-Series Films and Cine1 Studios, it is the third instalment after Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022). The film stars Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri, and is set in Kolkata.
1. He directed from a wheelchair
During shooting, Anees Bazmee fractured his leg on the last day of the film recce. Doctors suggested a steel plate and three months of rest, but he opted for minor surgery so he could honour his commitment. He came to the set in a wheelchair and continued with his work.
2. The original Manjulika returned—with a twist
On 12 February 2024, it was announced that Vidya Balan, who played Manjulika in the original Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), would play an alternate version of her character. Kartik Aaryan was cast as an alternate version of his role from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and on 21 February 2024, Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri were announced as joining the project.
3. A song set needed over a thousand dancers
A massive set was erected in Film City, Mumbai, specifically for the song, which involved over a thousand background dancers. The choreography was done by Ganesh Acharya.
4. Mere Dholna became a Madhuri-Vidya jugalbandi
The song Mere Dholna was filmed as a jugalbandi between Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan. It was choreographed by Chinni Prakash. Prior to this, key shots were filmed at an elaborate Bengali village set up by the production team in Mumbai.
5. Kolkata shoot landed on the landmarks
The cast and crew landed in Kolkata on 8 April 2024 to commence the second schedule. Kartik Aaryan rode a bullet on Howrah Bridge, and scenes were shot at Victoria Memorial, Mallick Ghat flower market, Park Street Graveyard and Nonapukur Tram Depot. The shoot concluded at Laha Bari in Central Kolkata.
6. Netflix paid ₹135 crore for digital rights
The digital streaming rights of the film were acquired by Netflix for ₹135 crore. The film began streaming on the platform from 27 December 2024. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 opened at ₹36.60 crore on day one in India and concluded its run with an estimated worldwide gross of ₹423.85 crore.
7. The spirit was never Manjulika
In the film’s climax, after the priest prepares a magical oil to subdue the spirit, the spirit reveals that it is actually Prince Debendranath. A flashback shows Debendranath is effeminate and secretly loves dancing Kathak; Anjulika and Manjulika feign support before betraying him to the king, who publicly humiliates and burns him alive. Bollywood Hungama rated the film 4.5 stars out of 5 and wrote that it had an unpredictable climax.
Which of these Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 details is your favourite?
Facts from Wikipedia: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Film images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.