Hera Pheri To Bhool Bhulaiyaa: Five Iconic Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar Films To Watch Before Bhooth Bangla

Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan gave Hindi cinema some masterpieces in the '90s and 2000s. With time and changing script choices, the duo stopped making films together after Khatta Meetha. Fans were awaiting their reunion for the longest. Something changed and the much-anticipated collaboration finally materialised. No fallout, no fights and definitely no creative differences, but these years definitely changed how Hindi comedies were sketched. Now, 14 years later, Akshay and Priyadarshan promise to bring their unique flavours to Bhooth Bangla, an upcoming horror-comedy. The internet went into a nostalgia-induced meltdown.The popular Bollywood actor-director duo's films didn’t just win at the box office; they became the ultimate mood-lifters for Indian

families. The impact they’ve had on family comedies is massive. They shifted the wave of the genre, making it more relatable, spontaneous and fun. As Bhooth Bangla gears up for its April 10 release, the expectations are sky-high. While the horror-comedy is still 10 days away, let’s revisit the duo's five films that set the bar so high.

1. Hera Pheri (2000)

You can’t start this list anywhere else. Hera Pheri is essentially the 'Godfather' of Indian comedy. While it was a remake of Ramji Rao Speaking, the trio of Raju, Shyam, and Baburao Ganpatrao Apte became a cultural phenomenon. Akshay Kumar as Raju brought a certain 'shana' (street-smart) energy that balanced Suniel Shetty’s innocence and Paresh Rawal’s legendary timing. It’s iconic because it moved away from slapstick and focused on the desperation of the middle class, turning poverty and a wrong phone call into a comedy of errors that we still quote in memes today.

2. Garam Masala (2005)

If you want to see Akshay at his energetic and playful best, Garam Masala is the one. Playing Mac, a photographer juggling three air hostesses in one flat, his physical comedy was top-tier. The way he dodges one girlfriend while the other is in the kitchen is adrenaline-fueled humour. Priyadarshan introduced 'apartment comedy' to Indian cinema, and gave bromance a meaning. Akshay-John Abraham's chemistry is still fresh. Their coming timing and the film's self-justified humour made it a cult classic.

3. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)

Before the Strees, Bhediyas and Munjyas, there existed Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Stepping away from the quintessential horror outlines, this psychological thriller took itself seriously to entertain and spook the audience. Despite it being a remake, Priyadarshan's direction, and Akshay, Vidya Balan and the ensemble cast's performance made it feel fresh. Akshay’s quirkiness and Vidya's haunting act stood tall. The actor-director duo proved that horror can be for a family audience, too.

4. Bhagam Bhag (2006)

This film is a masterclass in ensemble comedy. Bringing Govinda and Akshay together was a stroke of genius. Set in London, the movie follows a theatre troupe caught in a murder mystery they have nothing to do with. The beauty of Bhagam Bhag lies in the rapid-fire dialogue and the constant confusion. Priyadarshan could take a thriller plot and drown it in so much laughter that you almost forget there’s a mystery to solve. The climax at the park is still peak Bollywood comedy.

5. De Dana Dan (2009)

De Dana Dan is famous for its massive climax involving a literal flood in a hotel. It brought back the Hera Pheri trio and added about twenty more legendary character actors to the mix. While the plot is a wild ride of kidnappings and mistaken identities, Akshay’s portrayal of a frustrated man looking for a shortcut to wealth felt like a spiritual successor to Raju. It’s iconic because of its sheer scale; nobody does chaos better than Priyadarshan, and this film was the loudest, wettest, and wildest of them all.

Can Bhooth Bangla take the legacy forward?

The bar has been set high by Akshay and Priyadarshan. Now, the challenge is on them to take their legacy forward with Bhooth Bangla. It is a mammoth challenge, but we are sure, they won't disappoint fans. The experience of unlimited laughter in a theatre is set to be revived.