Akshay Kumar on why fantasy films need logic at their core
Synopsis
Akshay Kumar argues that even fantasy and horror must operate on internal logic — and 'Bhooth Bangla' takes that seriously, grounding its supernatural premise in Vedic concepts and quantum physics references. It is also the actor's first collaboration with director Priyadarshan in 14 years, reuniting the pair behind 'Hera Pheri' and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'.
Key Takeaways
Akshay Kumar says all fantasy storytelling — including comic books — must have a coherent internal logic to be believable.
Director Priyadarshan grounds 'Bhooth Bangla' 's supernatural premise in Vedic concepts and references to quantum physics .
The film follows a man who inherits a haunted palace and plans his sister's wedding there, only to encounter supernatural events.
The cast includes Tabu , Paresh Rawal , Rajpal Yadav , Jisshu Sengupta , Asrani , and Wamiqa Gabbi . 'Bhooth Bangla' marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan after a gap of 14 years .
Akshay Kumar, currently promoting his upcoming horror-comedy 'Bhooth Bangla', has said that even the most fantastical stories must be grounded in internal logic — and that audiences instinctively sense when that logic is missing.
What Akshay Said About Logic in Fantasy
Speaking during a promotional interaction for 'Bhooth Bangla', the 'Airlift' actor made the case that comic books — often seen as pure escapism — actually operate on clear rules. 'Yeah, because there should be a logic. Basically, when you read a comic book, there is a logic in it as well. Where does this come from? Where does the power come from? How does a person change? Why does he change? Why does his form change? Everyone has a logic,' Akshay said.
The argument is a familiar one in genre filmmaking: audiences are willing to suspend disbelief, but only if the world they enter follows its own coherent rules. Without that scaffolding, fantasy risks feeling arbitrary rather than imaginative.
Director Priyadarshan Grounds the Film in Vedic Science
Director Priyadarshan expanded on Akshay's point by explaining how 'Bhooth Bangla' itself builds its supernatural premise on a quasi-scientific foundation. 'See, in the beginning of the film, there is a sequence where the professor is giving a lecture in Sydney's seminar, where he is talking about what is happening in the Vedas, tele-transportation. The same thing we have here. We also believe that one can send one's soul into another person's body. So, these things are mentioned, like quantum physics. All those things I just mentioned, so that could happen. It's not that it can happen,' the filmmaker said.
The approach — anchoring the supernatural in Vedic concepts and quantum physics references — is a deliberate storytelling device to earn the audience's trust before the horror unfolds. Notably, Priyadarshan is careful to frame it as narrative possibility rather than factual claim.
What 'Bhooth Bangla' Is About
The film follows a man who inherits a haunted palace and, undeterred, decides to host his sister's wedding there — only to find himself navigating a series of supernatural events alongside the wedding preparations. The premise blends domestic comedy with horror, a genre space Priyadarshan has navigated successfully before.
'Bhooth Bangla' is jointly produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor. The cast includes Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles.
A Reunion 14 Years in the Making
'Bhooth Bangla' marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan after a gap of 14 years. The duo previously collaborated on several commercially successful films including 'Hera Pheri', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa', 'Garam Masala', and 'Khatta Meetha' — a body of work that defined a particular era of Hindi comedy-drama. The reunion has generated considerable anticipation among fans of both the actor and the director.
With 'Bhooth Bangla', the pair appear intent on recapturing that chemistry while pushing the genre further with a more elaborate supernatural framework.
Point of View
Not framing. The more interesting story here is the reunion: the Akshay-Priyadarshan partnership produced some of Hindi cinema's most durable comedies, and the 14-year gap means both have evolved considerably. Audiences will be watching to see if the chemistry has held.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Bhooth Bangla' about?
'Bhooth Bangla' is a horror-comedy about a man who inherits a haunted palace and decides to host his sister's wedding there, only to encounter supernatural events. The film blends domestic comedy with horror and is directed by Priyadarshan.
Why does Akshay Kumar say logic is important in fantasy films?
Akshay Kumar argues that even fantastical stories — including comic books — operate on internal rules that explain character origins and transformations. Without that logic, he says, the fantasy feels unconvincing to audiences.
How has 'Bhooth Bangla' grounded its supernatural story?
Director Priyadarshan has anchored the film's supernatural premise in references to Vedic concepts such as soul transmigration and quantum physics, framing them as narrative possibilities rather than factual claims. This is established early in the film through a professor's lecture in Sydney.
Who is in the cast of 'Bhooth Bangla'?
The film stars Akshay Kumar alongside Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Wamiqa Gabbi. It is jointly produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor.
When did Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan last work together?
Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan last collaborated 14 years before 'Bhooth Bangla'. Their previous films together include 'Hera Pheri', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa', 'Garam Masala', and 'Khatta Meetha'.
