Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’s clash couldn’t be avoided despite both sides trying their best, says Bhushan Kumar; shares why Vidya Balan didn’t do BB 2

As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has witnessed numerous Bollywood tussles over release dates, I find it refreshing to see two powerhouse productions like Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 clash on Diwali this year. While I was initially disheartened by the potential box office rivalry, hearing the behind-the-scenes story of their attempts to avoid a clash has me rooting for both camps.


This year, Bollywood is set for a double celebration on Diwali with two highly anticipated releases: Ajay Devgn’s Singham Returns and Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. However, despite attempts by producers like Bhushan Kumar (who worked on the latter) to avoid a clash, it proved impossible due to prior obligations with streaming platforms and creative necessities.

Additionally, it was mentioned that Vidya Balan declined doing Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 initially due to uncertainties about her character’s portrayal in the movie. However, she eventually appreciated the final outcome.

In an open chat with Bollywood Hungama, Bhushan Kumar, the man behind my beloved Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, shared some intriguing insights about its release date clashing with Rohit Shetty’s much-anticipated Singham Again. He explained that we both were aware of the significant value our films carry as part of esteemed franchises. Yet, despite our best efforts to dodge this collision, circumstances led us to choose Diwali as the perfect time to unveil our masterpieces to the world. As an ardent fan, I can hardly contain my excitement!

Explaining the cause, he pointed out that they were bound by an earlier agreement with OTT platforms and couldn’t alter it. On the other hand, the creators of Singham Again faced a similar predicament as their film carried a Ramayana theme and the timing of its release coincided perfectly with the festival.

They had a meeting to find a way to prevent a conflict, yet despite their efforts, it proved impossible due to certain complications.

It was inquired whether Kumar harbored resentment towards Vidya Balan regarding her absence from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. However, he refuted this allegation, explaining that there was a valid explanation behind her decision.

He recalled that Vidya said that she got a lot of love and appreciation for her role in Bhool Bhulaiyaa that she did during the initial phase of career in Bollywood. 

As a lifestyle expert, I found myself pondering about my role in the sequel, unsure if my absence might taint the praise I’d previously received. Yet, when the blockbuster Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 featuring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani took over the box office, my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to watch it, and I must admit, it was quite enjoyable!

Furthermore, she went ahead and phoned Bhushan to express her appreciation for the movie. In response, he revealed that he had invited her to join Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 at that moment, and eventually they managed to get her involved in the project. The film also features Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Rajpal Yadav among others, with Anees Bazmee as the director.

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2024-11-06 01:07