Twelve years after Bhool Bhulaiyaa, actor returns to horror-comedy genre with director Raghava Lawrence
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 22, 2019)

Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy Stree proved to be the game changer last year but few recall that it was not Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor but Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan who introduced the genre in Bollywood with Bhool Bhulaiyaa in 2007. Now, 12 years later, the actor is back in the horror-comedy space with director Raghava Lawrence. The film is scheduled to go on floors by April-end.

According to a source close to the development, the yet-untitled film will be on the lines of the director’s successful Tamil franchise, Kanchana. “It’s not a straight remake, the basic premise will draw references from two films, Muni and Kanchana, so it’s more like two films clubbed in one to create double the impact. The team has been working on the script for over six months and has added several new dimensions to the original film.”

The source added that this horror comedy is a revenge drama with Akshay playing a man who is so afraid of ghosts, he refuses to step out of his house after sundown. The twist in the tale comes when he encounters a transgender ghost. The film will be shot for 60-70 days between April and July and is targeting an early 2020 release. The film rides on a huge ensemble cast and the team is currently looking to lock the cast and title.

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar recently wrapped up Mission Mangal co-starring Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha and Kriti Kulhari which tells the story of scientists at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) who were a part of the Mars Orbiter Mission, which unveils on Independence Day. Soon after, on September 6, he will have another release in Good News with Kareena Kapoor wherein the duo would be seen as a married couple who opt for IVF to conceive a baby.