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The trailer for Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s latest collaboration, Bhooth Bangla, is finally out. It marks a massive reunion, with actors like Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav also joining in. The movie is going to be released on April 17, with paid previews starting on April 16.

What is interesting, however, is just how many callbacks there are to previous films and collaborations. From Hungama to Bhagam Bhag, the trailer was an ode to all the comedy films the filmmaker made in the early 2000s.

Credit: Balaji Motion Pictures

The trailer for Bhooth Bangla is filled with references here and there. The movie may not have come out yet, but it clear that nostalgia is the path they are using. Although Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar made everyone laugh in the peak of their era, the same may not be with their upcoming film. This is because of how many references they managed to slip in a 3-minute clip.

Dialogues like ‘Behen dar gayi’ are right out of Bhagam Bhag. The ‘Mandir ka ghanta’ dialogue is also a repeat from Hungama. So was the way that Akshay Kumar threw the brass pot in Paresh Rawal’s direction. The haveli itself is the exact same property that was used in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Tabu’s ominous aura feels more akin to Vidya Balan’s Manjulika in the film.

The callbacks seem less like a touch of nostalgia and more like an attempt to reuse old dialogues to make fans laugh again. Due to that, they haven’t been as happy upon seeing the trailer as Akshay and Priyadarshan would like.

Credit: Balaji Motion Pictures

Fans did not like the nostalgic dialogues the way they were intended to. Nostalgia is a big way to win the audience’s heart, but this time, it is only adding to more frustration that amusement. To top things off, the trailer itself failed to make them laugh in the way an Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan film would.

This looks copy paste of bhool bhulaiyaa with dialogues mash up from Priyadarshan’s old movies an attempt to create laughter by nostalgia, cinema may fall flat, feel very sad for team of writers.

— Abhishek Anand (@Abbhiaan) April 6, 2026

Kyu nahi ho rahi commedy... pic.twitter.com/DsimVfhs3y

— Erwin Smith (@pravinhatkar_) April 6, 2026

Abbe kuch to original bnao vhi same bhul bhulaiya ki script, same dialogues phle ki movies ke like :

"bahan dar gyi bahan dar gyi "

"Hum koi mandir ka ghanta hai jo koi bhi bja ke chla jaata hai"

— Mr Shivam (@shivcasm__) April 6, 2026

Some dialogues and scenes are copied but that's okay. We will watch.

— Nitish Tiwary (@poetnitish) April 6, 2026

If someone from Akshay Kumar team is watching plss make him Stop using his old jokes time and again its irritating Seriously... Nostalgia aur reel ke chakkar mai film mai aise cheeze mat karo pls

— Santosh Herkal (@evilmady) April 6, 2026

Sir stop repeating ur old gags in fresh movies. Same u did in housefull 5. I am ur die hard fan but it’s not correct tactics.its ok once in a bluemoon.

— Pc (@chitkarapuneet) April 6, 2026

Nostalgic, repeated jokes work only if they are rarely used, surprising the audience with an unexpected reference. However, if a trailer like this is full of them, it only brings to make audiences more bored with the film than excited for it.

Lead and social image credits: Balaji Motion Pictures and Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision