Bhool Bhulaiyya 2 directed by Anees Bazmee starring Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu is by no means close to the original yet a watchable experience. This star cast is led by the presence of a veteran such as Tabu, a decent performance by Aryan, and good support by Sanjay Mishra and Rajpal Yadav.
Right from the arrival of the trailer, loyal fans of Akshay Kumar's 2007 hit film Bhool Bhulaiyaa were a little disappointed. Once again, we had a sequel that didn't seem that powerful and there was no Kumar to excite the audience. However, many agreed that the next generation Kartik Aaryan does show some promise. The theory works considerably. But mind you, your expectations have to be low.
The horror-comedy is an upcoming genre in Bollywood. This is a world of ghosts and vamps living comfortably with people in small towns and becoming part of casual humour. About Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, we could say it doesn't work as well as Dinesh Vijan's Stree but certainly better than something like Bhoot Police.
It takes little effort to realise that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is designed to be a commercial mainstream film. It has been created by writers of Housefull 4 and a Flying Jatt, so how different can it be? Let us find out.
We begin in a cliched modern boy meets girl way. Kartik Aryan is playing himself, a rich funny brat who gets his way through humorous dialogues. Out of nowhere, there is a Honey Singh party song full of funky outfits and rap. There are slow patches here and there, and definitely, the film could have been shorter. Even the good bits are stretched which lessens their impact. Unlike Stree or Bhool Bhulaiyaa, there are no nuances here. Abandoned haveli, slow-moving leaves, and cobwebs are used to provide an eerie feeling.
Nevertheless, the movie is not a complete miss. Kartik Aaryan's comic timing is actually pretty good. The actor has certainly changed his appearance and looks great. Kartik plays Yuhaan, a city boy who claims that he can talk to dead people. Kartik gives a convincing performance with confidence and glamour. Although his character is similar to Akshay's in the original, he never tries to imitate him. Minus the gender stereotypes that became his USP from the Punchnama series, this actor could be likeable.
However, what lends the film its much-needed substance is Tabu. Saying that without her, the movie would have been bad is not an overstatement. Her personality exudes a strength that somehow towers above all. I wonder can young actors ever match this? Tabu has performed thoroughly with expressions, dialogue delivery and dance.
Moments of laughter balance the less believable horror bits. Good actors such as Sanjay Mishra and Rajpal Yadav as bade and chote pandit keep us entertained. Although without nuances, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is not entirely predictable. The climax is overly dramatized but the story is still coherent. The movie is an averagely good family experience. Yet, a question remains. How long will Bollywood rely on making average (or bad)sequels than creating original projects? You can catch Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in theatres near you.
