Why Akshay Kumar Didn’t Return for the Bhool Bhulaiyaa Sequels

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Akshay Kumar finally opened up about why he wasn’t part of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa sequels. When a fan shared that they skipped the second and third installments because of his absence, the 57-year-old actor plainly stated, “I was removed. That’s it.”

While Akshay Kumar kept his explanation brief, fans online strongly resonated with the fan’s sentiment. One social media user wrote, “I thought I was the only one who didn’t watch 2 and 3 because Akshay wasn’t there.” Another added, “The original movie was truly iconic. Even after multiple sequels, they couldn’t match its level without Akshay.”

Meanwhile, Karthik Aaryan stepped into the franchise as the lead, portraying Ruhan in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Replacing Akshay’s beloved character, Dr. Aditya, Karthik acknowledged the challenge of following in such big footsteps. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, he shared, “I’ve always been a huge fan of Akshay. I don’t see myself on the same level as him. I’ve admired his work since I was a child, so being compared to him feels surreal.”

Back in 2022, during the Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 trailer launch, director Anees Bazmee addressed Akshay and Vidya Balan’s absence from the sequel. He explained, “Akshay is a phenomenal actor and a close friend. If we had found a way to include him, it would have benefited us greatly. Unfortunately, the script didn’t give us that opportunity.”

However, Vidya Balan returned as the iconic Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. In an interview with Filmibeat, she spoke about Akshay’s absence. “It’s a completely different team, so I don’t specifically miss him,” she shared. “But I absolutely enjoy working with him and look forward to collaborating again.” Vidya fondly recalled Akshay’s humor on set, describing him as “unpredictable” and revealing how they often laughed and bonded during shoots.

Shifting focus to his future projects, Akshay shared updates about the highly anticipated Hera Pheri 3. Reflecting on the cultural impact of the original film, he told Pinkvilla, “I had no idea how much it would resonate with people. I liked the film, it was funny, but I didn’t expect it to become a cultural phenomenon.”

Akshay also acknowledged how Hera Pheri continues to live on through memes that dominate social media. Laughing as he reminisced about his famous lines like “Jali na, jali na?”, he revealed, “Those moments were all spontaneous.”

Finally, Akshay confirmed that filming for Hera Pheri 3 is on the horizon. “I’m eagerly waiting for it to begin,” he shared. “If everything goes according to plan, we’ll start filming by the end of this year.”