Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 movie review: Kartik Aaryan's film tests patience but offers an impactful climax that is 'too little, too late'

Director: Anees Bazmee

Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, Kartik Aaryan, Tripti Dimrii, Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, Ashwini Kaleskar

Runtime: 158 minutes

Where to watch: Theaters

Right off the back, let's get one thing straight. Logic isn't Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3's strongest suit. Willing suspension of disbelief is required more than one would expect. Much like Singham Again (another box office release this week), you might just have to “leave your brains at home”. Directed by Anees Bazmee, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has silly gags, lame jokes which don't quite land and a parody of Jawaan which is less of a tribute, and more of a mockery of the film.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie: Plot

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 opens in the year 1824 in Rakhtghat, West Bengal where the stage is set for the upcoming rivalry between Manjulika/Mallika (Vidya Balan) and Anjulika/Mandira (Madhuri Dixit). Rooh Baba (played by Kartik Aaryan, who is channeling his inner Akshay Kumar) is still conning people in the name of being a psychic medium.

A royal princess Meera (Tripti Dimrii), the daughter of the King of Rakhtaghat seeks Rooh Baba's services. Why, you ask? Because her caricature of a father, Raja Sahab (Vijay Raaz), believes the palace is haunted. Now the humour in the film is not the most intelligent. We get Sanjay Mishra, Rajpal Yadav and Vijay Raaz—the holy trinity of actors with impeccable comic timing—but there is only so much they can do to uplift jokes which go for the lowest hanging fruit.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie: Performances

As Rooh Baba spends time in Rakhtaghat, he discovers his family history. Enter Mallika (Balan), whose purpose is to take the palace back to its glory days by renovation. Around the second half enters Mandira (Dixit) who is fascinated (obsessed?) with the throne of the palace. What are these two mysterious women upto? Who will get to sit on the throne? And why is Tripti Dimrii being sidelined?

The first half of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is difficult to sit through. Annoying gags, punches that don't really land play a spoilsport. I wish I could say the film picks pace from the second half onwards but the situation doesn't really improve.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie: Writing And Direction

We see ‘Ami Je Tomar’ dance number, where both Balan and Dixit look graceful as ever. Balan is the OG actor from 2007's Bhool Bhulaiyaa and it pains me to say that even she can't recreate the magic of the first film, which itself was an adaptation.

Needless to say, as evident from the trailer, the acting performances are subpar. A psychological thriller not having an engrossing plot can be forgiven but what happens when it relies on jump scares for horror? That too the jump scares which you can see coming from a mile away? It is an underwhelming experience to say the least.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie: What Works, What Doesn't 

Having said that, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3's climax creeps up on you. Is homosexuality handled with the kind of sensitivity it deserves? No. Having said that, the inclusion of a token queer angle, though a hollow gesture, might just normalize discussions around same-sex relationships, given that the film is a mainstream entertainer and likely to be watched by a wide audience.

While the climax does offer you a payoff—almost as if it is a reward for surviving the 2 hours—it is too little too late. Towards the end, you might just find yourself zoning out. By the time the dish arrives at the table, you aren't hungry anymore. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is best forgotten. The dance number in the end, with a set that resembles the set of the same song which was also remixed in the previous film, offers little novelty. Watch it only if you are in for some cheap thrills.

Star rating: 2.5 / 5 stars 

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is now playing in theaters.