Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla appears to be feeling the heat of Dhurandhar: The Revenge at the box office. Multiple reports on March 28–29 said the Priyadarshan directorial may move away from its April 10, 2026 release window because Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate screens across theatres. India Today reported that the makers were considering a one-week push to April 17, while other outlets described the shift as effectively decided.
Why Bhooth Bangla is under pressure
The biggest reason being cited is simple: screen space. According to India Today, the film’s producers began rethinking their release plan after Project Hail Mary reportedly struggled to secure enough shows because of Dhurandhar 2’s strong theatrical hold. The idea behind the possible move is to let Ranveer Singh’s film complete about a month in cinemas and then enter with more breathing room.
April 17 emerges as the likely new date
As of March 28, India Today said a final announcement was still awaited, but placed April 17 as the date under active consideration. By March 29, Deccan Herald and The Times of India reported that Bhooth Bangla had been pushed from April 10 to April 17, framing it as a business move to avoid clashing with a film that is still pulling packed houses.
A smart business call, not a panic move
Trade chatter around the development suggests the rethink is being seen less as a retreat and more as a tactical decision. The logic is straightforward: a horror-comedy like Bhooth Bangla needs enough showcasing and family footfall to work at full strength, and releasing while Dhurandhar 2 is still eating up a majority of screens could hurt its opening potential. This is an inference from the reporting on screen availability and the producers’ effort to avoid a clash.
Why the film still has strong buzz
Even amid the release-date confusion, Bhooth Bangla remains one of the more anticipated Hindi releases on the calendar. The film reunites Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan after 14 years and also features Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi and Mithila Palkar. India Today also reported that the film has received a UA-16 certificate from the CBFC.
So, has Bhooth Bangla definitely moved? The cleanest reading right now is this: the shift to April 17 is being widely reported, but at least one major report said an official confirmation was still pending as of March 28 evening. What is clear, though, is the reason behind the rethink — Dhurandhar 2 has become such a box-office force that even big films are choosing caution over collision.
By – Juhi