The wait is finally over for fans of the iconic Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan duo. Their latest collaboration, the horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, officially hit theaters on Friday, April 17, 2026, and early box office indicators suggest a triumphant return for the pair. After 14 years apart, the team behind hits like Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Hera Pheri is proving that their brand of cinema still holds massive sway at the ticket windows. ‘Bhooth Bangla’ Promotions Begin in Delhi; Akshay Kumar’s Horror-Comedy Trends No.1 Ahead of April 2026 Release.

Preview Collections

The film has already built strong box office momentum ahead of its official Friday release, earning an estimated INR 3.50 to INR 3.75 crore net from Thursday night paid preview screenings across India, surpassing early trade expectations that ranged between INR 2.50 to INR 3 crore. The impressive numbers were largely driven by urban markets, with national cinema chains contributing nearly INR 2 crore to the total, while late-night walk-ins in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore significantly boosted collections, indicating a promising start at the box office.

'Bhooth Bangla' Set for Strong Day 1

Riding on strong word-of-mouth and impressive advance bookings, Bhooth Bangla is expected to deliver a stellar Day 1 at the box office, with trade analysts predicting an opening of over INR 15 crore net on its first Friday, including preview collections. This would put it ahead of Jolly LLB 3, which opened at around INR 12.50 crore in 2026. Industry experts highlight that such numbers are exceptional for a non-holiday, non-sequel release, indicating a strong audience demand for the horror-comedy genre, especially after the massive success of Stree 2 and Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Suniel Shetty Praises Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’ Trailer, Calls Priyadarshan’s Horror-Comedy a ‘Maaddd Spooky Laugh-Riot’ You Can’t Resist (View Post)

Box Office Shift

The release of Bhooth Bangla signals a major shift at the domestic box office, ending the four-week dominance of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which created history with an estimated INR 1,077 crore net in India and INR 1,719.5 crore worldwide gross. Now in its fifth week, Dhurandhar has witnessed a notable drop in collections, opening up over 3,500 screens for Bhooth Bangla to capitalise on. The film’s strong start is further boosted by its ensemble cast, featuring Akshay Kumar alongside Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Mithila Palkar, Rajpal Yadav and Manoj Joshi, blending nostalgia with fresh appeal.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 17, 2026 10:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).