Akshay Kumar is back in cinemas, and the early box office signals for Bhooth Bangla are cautiously encouraging. Let’s break down exactly what the numbers say — and what they mean for Bollywood’s beloved horror-comedy star.
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Bhooth Bangla Advance Booking Numbers at a Glance
As of 9 PM on Thursday, Bhooth Bangla sold around 72,000 tickets in the top two national chains — PVR Inox and Cinepolis — for the opening day and paid previews combined. Of this, approximately 40,000 tickets were for the previews and 32,000 for Friday’s regular shows.
| Category | Tickets Sold (National Chains) |
|---|---|
| Paid Previews | ~40,000 |
| Day 1 (Friday) Advance | ~32,000 |
| Total (by 9 PM Thursday) | ~72,000 |
| Expected Friday Advance (midnight) | ~42,000 |
How Does It Compare to Akshay’s Recent Films?
Bhooth Bangla’s advance booking is better than Akshay Kumar’s previous release Jolly LLB 3, but lower than Housefull 5. It’s a middle-ground performance — strong enough to signal genuine audience interest, but not quite the runaway pre-release buzz Housefull 5 generated.
Opening Day Projection
Based on current trends, Bhooth Bangla is expected to open in double digits at the box office, in sync with a forecast of Rs. 12 crore to Rs. 16 crore — which also includes Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore from paid previews.
The film, directed by veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, is getting a wide nationwide theatrical release on over 3,200 screens. That kind of screen count gives it a real fighting chance if word-of-mouth turns positive quickly.
The Bigger Picture for Bollywood in 2026
So far, 2026 has been a fruitful year for the Hindi film industry, with Dhurandhar: The Revenge emerging as the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time in India. Before that, Border 2 turned in a promising run, followed by solid performances from Mardaani 3 and The Kerala Story 2. A strong run from Bhooth Bangla would only add momentum to what’s shaping up to be a historic year for Bollywood.
For more on Bollywood’s 2026 box office surge, check out our detailed coverage at TechnoSports, and don’t miss our roundup of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters to watch this year.
FAQs
Q: How many tickets did Bhooth Bangla sell in advance booking?
As of Thursday evening, it sold around 72,000 tickets across PVR Inox and Cinepolis, targeting a double-digit opening day collection.
Q: What is the expected opening day collection of Bhooth Bangla?
The film is projected to collect between Rs. 12 crore and Rs. 16 crore on Day 1, including paid preview earnings.
