In a year where many highly anticipated Hindi films struggled to make an impact at the box office, horror comedies have surfaced as surprise winners. Among them, the sleeper hit Munjya and especially Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s Stree 2 emerged as resounding victories, with the latter reigning as the year’s top grosser thus far. Fresh on the heels of these successes, the film industry eagerly awaits Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, another installment in the popular horror comedy genre.
As the release of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 looms, set to grace cinemas on November 1, all eyes are on its director, Anees Bazmee. While many filmmakers might feel daunted by the prospect of competing with the runaway success of Stree 2, Bazmee embraces a different viewpoint. “Luckily, people are watching horror comedies a lot these days. Naturally, we will benefit a little from that [Stree 2’s success]. But in the end, it doesn’t matter which genre you make your film in. It has to be an entertaining movie,” he asserts.
Bazmee assures audiences that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 will deliver the entertainment they crave, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, and Triptii Dimri. However, his creative energies do not intend to rest even after the film hits theaters. Immediately following the release, Bazmee plans to focus on his next major project, No Entry Mein Entry. This eagerly awaited sequel to the 2005 Salman Khan hit No Entry promises a laughter-packed ride. Bazmee will bring together an illustrious cast, including Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Arjun Kapoor, setting a high bar for comedy enthusiasts.
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Crafting a sequel two decades after the original film is both a daunting and exhilarating proposition. Still, Bazmee looks forward to not just revisiting the beloved story but also collaborating with today’s crop of talented actors. “A lot of the new-age actors have amazing comic skills. I love Varun’s comic timing,” Bazmee shares, clearly buoyed at the prospect of working with Varun Dhawan.
But Bazmee’s aspirations don’t stop there. The director has his sights set on another comedic venture, one that will see him teaming up not just with Dhawan, but also with other contemporary stalwarts like Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao. “The same stands true for Ayushmann [Khurrana] and Rajkummar! Rajkummar is a very good actor. I have liked his work even in films that haven’t worked at the box office,” Bazmee insists, reminding audiences and critics alike of the nuanced performances both actors have consistently delivered.
Bazmee envisions a film that showcases these actors in a fresh light, one that stands to captivate audiences with a blend of humor and charisma unique to these stars. Highlighting his artistic synergy with these actors, Bazmee says, “I think if a film is made with these three actors, the audience will see them in a new avatar,” hinting at a project that creatively surprises and elevates stand-up comedy to new heights.
As Bazmee prepares to move forward with No Entry Mein Entry in early next year—plans tentatively suggesting a February-March production start—he seems determined to harness the strengths and innate humor that Dhawan, Khurrana, and Rao bring to their roles. The audiences’ growing affinity for reimagined horror comedies as well as traditional comic narratives lays fertile ground for Bazmee’s full-bodied genre exploration.
In an industry that constantly evolves, with tastes diversifying and preferences shifting, Anees Bazmee stands resolute, ready to blend laughter with storytelling, aided by the formidable comic talents of Varun Dhawan, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Rajkummar Rao. By crafting narratives that seamlessly weave humor with heart, Bazmee ensures his films remain not just entertaining, but unmissable.
