Akshay Kumar says "Mujhey nikaal diya tha" from Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise as Kartik Aaryan took over

Akshay Kumar has provided clarity on his absence from the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, confirming that he was “removed” from the sequel and threequel. In a recent interaction with fans, Kumar responded to a question about why he was not a part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2023), stating, “Beta, mujhey nikaal diya tha (I was removed). That's it.” This marks his first direct comment on the matter, explaining that his exclusion was not due to personal choices but rather a decision made by the filmmakers.

The original Bhool Bhulaiyaa film, released in 2007 and directed by Priyadarshan, was a significant success, with Akshay Kumar playing the role of a psychologist, Dr. Vidyadhar, who investigates a haunted mansion. The film combined elements of psychological horror and comedy, leading to its wide popularity. In contrast, the sequels, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, shifted the focus towards a more comedic horror approach, with Kartik Aaryan stepping into the lead role as Rooh Baba, a ghostbuster with comedic traits. The second installment, directed by Anees Bazmee, and the third installment, released in 2023, both performed well at the box office, continuing the franchise's success.

Director Anees Bazmee had previously spoken about Akshay Kumar’s absence, explaining that the actor's busy schedule and diverse projects made it difficult for him to be a part of the sequel. Bazmee emphasized that Akshay’s stature in the industry, with a career spanning over 30 years, made his involvement in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 less feasible. While Bazmee clarified that Akshay was not replaced, he noted that the film's direction and storyline required a fresh take with Kartik Aaryan in the lead role.

Kartik Aaryan, who was cast as the lead in both Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, has expressed admiration for Akshay Kumar and the significant impact he had on his career. Aaryan, who grew up idolizing Akshay, stated that it felt strange to be compared to him, as he has always viewed the veteran actor as a mentor. Despite the comparisons, Aaryan downplayed the competition and focused on bringing his own energy to the role of Rooh Baba, a character that was very different from Akshay's Dr. Vidyadhar in the original film. The sequels, although criticized for their differences from the first film, continued to perform well at the box office, largely due to the evolving narrative and strong performances from the new cast.

Akshay Kumar has also opened up about his career evolution, specifically his shift from comedy to more socially relevant and content-driven films. Over the years, Akshay has diversified his roles, moving from mainstream comedies like Hera Pheri (2000) and Housefull (2010) to films with deeper themes such as Airlift (2016), Rustom (2016), Padman (2018), and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017). Despite these shifts, Kumar has confirmed his continued interest in comedy films and stated that he has signed on for upcoming projects such as Bhooth Bangla, Welcome to the Jungle, and Housefull 5, marking his return to the genre.

In addition to his changing roles, Akshay Kumar's 2024 films did not meet expectations at the box office. Movies like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Sarfira underperformed, sparking discussions about his strategy of doing multiple films a year. Kumar, however, remains unfazed by such dry spells, stating that they are a part of any actor's career. He expressed that his focus remains on continuing to work in a variety of films, regardless of their commercial outcome. Akshay stressed that he is proud of every film he has worked on and will continue to pursue a mix of content-driven and commercial projects moving forward.