Akshay Kumar was Priyadarshan’s favorite actor, and ‘two-gether’ they changed the commercial viability (and raised the bar) for full-on, clean comedies together with Hera Pheri (2000). Subsequently, they gave three hits in three consecutive years—Garam Masala (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa(2007). De Dana Dan (2009) and Khatta Meetha (2010), however, capsized, and both were Akshay Kumar’s home productions.
But now, Priyadarshan is on a Hindi cinema roll again. Bhool Bhulaiyaa was his last Hindi hit followed by nine consecutive flops, but he was always wanting to be back in Hindi cinema: the man, after all, has directed a whopping 82 films in multiple languages overall in the last 41 years!
Akshay has been known to patronize different directors in phases, moving on to others when their films begin to disappoint the audience. He has made a clear exception here with the director and is now making not one but three films—Bhoot Bangla, Haiwaan as well as Hera Pheri 3—with Priyan, as he is known.
The first is a horror comedy slated for release on April 2, 2026, and its shooting has been wrapped up. Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi co-star (Akshay and Tabu last co-starred in Tu Chor Main Sipahee almost 30 years back, though Tabu was Suniel Shetty’s heroine in Hera Pheri). Himesh Reshammiya, who had scored music for the director’s Kyon Ki… (2005) and Chup Chup Ke (2006), is also back with him. For Himesh too, this is his first big-scale movie since Raksha Bandhan (2022) as solo composer.
Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Saif Ali Khan, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar feature in the thriller, Haiwaan, helmed by the director. And Hera Pheri 3 (which Akshay is also co-producing) will co-star Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal (of course) and if buzz is true, even Sanjay Dutt.
Ram Gopal Varma and Manoj Bajpayee also reunite
A full 27 years after creating history with Satya, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and actor Manoj Bajpayee are coming together once again — this time for a horror comedy titled Police Station Mein Bhoot. Joining Manoj in this cinematic experiment is Genelia Deshmukh.
Filming has begun and the first schedule is already complete, setting the stage for a journey that blends fear, irony, and RGV’s signature storytelling along with humor. At its heart lies a question that flips the very idea of safety: We run to the police station when we are scared — but where will the police run when they are scared?
Speaking about the project, Ram Gopal Varma said, “Working with Manoj again is both nostalgic and thrilling. Fear becomes most frightening when it challenges the highest authority of safety, and a police station is the ultimate symbol of power. With Manoj’s intensity and Genelia’s vulnerability, this story will push boundaries of how we perceive horror in the guise of authority.”
While Manoj had earlier done Daud before Satya and Kaun? (1999) and Sarkar 3 (2017) with the maverick filmmaker, he had also starred in Shool and Road co-produced by Verma later. But their only hit remains Satya.
Analysis
Just like Priyadarshan, Ram Gopal Varma as a director has been having an inordinately long flop streak. His last hit was the sleeper small-budget Phoonk, way back in 2008, after which he has made a slew of undistinguished movies in Hindi and in the South. The urge to recapture glories and tie up with ‘lucky’ associates who are still viable in the market and have respect as well as affection for the director probably begins to count the most. RGV too, like Priyan, has Southern roots and though with far lesser success, he has made over 60 movies since he began making films in 1989.
An interesting trivia here: Manoj has never gone the Priyadarshan way while Akshay Kumar too has never entered Ram Gopal Varma territory!
Some hit teams in the past that reunited after a long gap
Salman Khan with Sooraj R. Barjatya in Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo (2016) after Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun!… (1994) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999).
Rajesh Khanna with Shakti Samanta in Awaaz (1984) and Alag Alag (1985 and co-produced by the actor) after Aradhana (1969), Kati Patang (1971), Amar Prem (1972), Anuraag (1973), Ajnabee (1974), Mehbooba(1976) and Anurodh (1977).
Shashi Kapoor with Yash Chopra in Deewaar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar(1979) and Silsila (1981) and productions Doosara Aadmi (1977) and Sawaal (1982) after Dharamputra(1961) and Waqt (1965)
Jeetendra with Ravee Nagaich in Bond 303 (1984) after Farz (1967), Jigri Dost (1969) and Himmat (1970).
