Vidya Balan on Rejection of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 Role and Excitement for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3

Vidya Balan has opened up about her decision to turn down the opportunity to star in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, citing concerns that her performance could overshadow her acclaimed role in the original film. In the 2007 hit, directed by Priyadarshan, she played the iconic character Avni/Manjulika alongside Akshay Kumar. Balan expressed her apprehension, stating, “I was so scared because Bhool Bhulaiyaa has given me so much. So I said, if I did something wrong, then everything will be in vain. I told Anees ji that I can't take this risk.”

However, Balan's perspective changed with the announcement of a third installment, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which is set to release on Diwali, November 1. “But when they came back to me with the third part, I loved the script. I was dying to work on this with Anees bhai and Bhushan. And then it only kept getting better,” she remarked.

The actor praised the team behind the sequel, which she felt helped her overcome her earlier hesitations. “And then the icing on the cake was working with Madhuri Dixit ma'am. So, I think it only kept getting better, and I accumulated the courage. I had a great time. He (Bazmee) is the king of entertainment. I had the opportunity to work with him,” she added.

Balan recently attended a film event where a new rendition of the franchise's famous song "Ami Jo Tomar" was unveiled. During the event, she performed alongside Madhuri Dixit and Kartik Aaryan. Although she faced a minor mishap when she slipped and fell, Balan handled the situation gracefully. She noted, “Dancing alongside a legend like Madhuri is no easy task. There is some kind of a tashan in that particular scene in the song. It was difficult for me because I was giving attitude to Madhuri. She is so generous... performing with her was not easy.”

Madhuri Dixit, who joins the franchise for the first time, also expressed her admiration for Balan. “We are releasing the song today. I would say to Vidya, you don't know how much I love the song because of you,” she said. Reflecting on her involvement in the project, she shared, “When Anees ji said there is a role in the movie and also you have to do a song, I was like, what? Because I always dreamt of this song and always wanted to perform it somewhere, maybe in a show. And when he said that, I was so happy and excited. I said I have to do this movie and be a part of this cast.”

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, produced by T-Series, also features Triptii Dimri, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, and Vijay Raaz, promising to continue the legacy of its predecessors.