By LUCKY BROTHERS
The legendary duo of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan has finally reunited after 16 years, and the box office response confirms that their “Hera Pheri” magic is still very much alive. Bhooth Bangla, the highly anticipated horror-comedy, officially hit theatres on Friday, April 17, 2026, and has immediately dethroned the long-running Dhurandhar 2 at the top of the charts.
The film, which features a powerhouse cast including Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi, registered a strong global debut, proving that the audience’s appetite for classic Bollywood comedy remains insatiable.
The Day 1 Breakdown: A Strong Domestic Start
Bhooth Bangla opened to “decent to strong” numbers across India, benefiting significantly from a clever “Paid Preview” strategy on Thursday evening.
- Friday (Day 1) Collection: The film earned an estimated ₹12.25 crore net in India on its first official day.
- Paid Previews (Thursday): An additional ₹3.50 crore was raked in from early screenings, bringing the total domestic net to ₹15.75 crore.
- Worldwide Debut: When factoring in the ₹5 crore overseas collection and local taxes, the film’s total global opening stands at a robust ₹23.90 crore.
Akshay Kumar’s Post-Pandemic Power
With these numbers, Bhooth Bangla has secured a spot among Akshay Kumar’s top five highest opening-day grossers in the post-pandemic era. It has effectively outpaced the Day 1 collections of his recent hits like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (₹15.50 crore) and Ram Setu (₹15.20 crore).
How it Ranks:
- Sooryavanshi (₹26.29 crore)
- Housefull 5 (₹24.00 crore)
- Bhooth Bangla (₹18.90 crore Gross / ₹15.75 crore Net)
Dethroning the Spy Universe
The most significant achievement of Bhooth Bangla’s first day was ending the four-week dominance of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Even after a month, Dhurandhar 2 was pulling in massive crowds, but the “Akshay-Priyan” fever finally pushed the spy thriller to the second spot as it saw its daily earnings drop to ₹2.70 crore.
Audience and Critic Reaction
The film has received a “Mixed-to-Positive” reception. While critics like Taran Adarsh (3.5 stars) praised Akshay’s “top-form” comic timing and the nostalgic chemistry between the lead trio, others felt the script was “vintage” and relied heavily on older tropes.
- High Point: The interval twist and the presence of comedy veterans Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav.
- Emotional Note: The film marks the final screen appearance of the late veteran actor Asrani, whose performance has been described as a touching “last hurrah.”
Day 1 Box Office Summary
| Metric | Collection (Approx.) |
| India Net (Day 1) | ₹12.25 Crore |
| Paid Previews (Thurs) | ₹3.50 Crore |
| Total Domestic Net | ₹15.75 Crore |
| Overseas Collection | ₹5.00 Crore |
| Worldwide Opening | ₹23.90 Crore |
Our Perspective
At bollywoodview.in, we’ve been tracking this reunion since its announcement, and the Day 1 numbers are a testament to the trust the audience has in Priyadarshan’s vision. While it didn’t touch the astronomical heights of Stree 2, Bhooth Bangla has successfully revived the mid-range horror-comedy market for Akshay Kumar. With a strong weekend jump of 50–60% expected on Saturday and Sunday, this “Bangla” is looking like a safe bet for a 100-crore run.
Verified by: bollywoodview.in News Desk
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By bollywoodview / April 17, 2026