By Rajveer Sekhawat 
Despite delivering a series of flops, Akshay Kumar continues to enjoy a strong fan base. The actor is now set to release a new horror-comedy film, which he announced on his birthday along with a motion poster. However, did you know that a film with this same title was made long ago?
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mehmood was the lead actor in the original film.
- A similar film was made 60 years ago.
- Bhoot Bangla is a horror-comedy film.
On his birthday, Akshay Kumar announced his next film Bhoot Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan. After 14 years, the duo will reunite. Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar have previously worked together on successful films like Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Bhagam Bhag, and Garam Masala. Their last collaboration was Khatta Meetha in 2010. This new film will be a horror-comedy, but interestingly, 59 years ago, Bollywood’s comedy king Mehmood brought a horror-comedy titled Bhoot Bangla to the screens.
A Film with the Same Title Was Released 60 Years Ago
In 1965, a film titled Bhoot Bangla was released, starring Tanuja as the lead actress and Mehmood as the lead actor. What makes this film even more remarkable is that Mehmood was not just the lead actor but also the producer, director, and writer.
Mehmood’s brother, Anwar Ali, has now shared his thoughts on the horror-comedy genre. In an interview with ETimes, Anwar mentioned that Mehmood was the pioneer who introduced horror-comedy to Bollywood. The film was a blockbuster at the time.
Not Afraid of Experimentation
Anwar explained that during a time when filmmakers were hesitant to experiment, Mehmood took the risk. Initially, Bhoot Bangla was planned as a musical comedy, but horror elements were later added, making the experiment a huge success. Large crowds flocked to theaters on the first day to see this new genre combination.
Anwar also highlighted that in an era without VFX or computers, Mehmood relied on his creativity and humor to make things work. He further praised Priyadarshan, calling him a brilliant filmmaker.
SHIVAM SHARMA