Last Updated:December 09, 2025, 14:27 IST

At the Red Sea International Film Festival, Kartik Aaryan revealed that he rejected Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 when it was first offered to him.

Kartik Aaryan revealed he first rejected Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, as he wasn’t keen on the project

At the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Kartik Aaryan represented India on the global stage, interacting with audiences and industry figures from around the world. Recently, his picture with Hollywood star Johnny Depp went viral. Meanwhile, several videos from his conversation at the Red Sea International Film Festival have surfaced on social media. In the Session, Kartik shared that he had initially turned down Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise.

Kartik Aaryan Admits He First Rejected Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 Offer

Kartik Aaryan revealed he first rejected Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, as he wasn’t keen on the project. Back then, it was just a sequel concept without a story. “When the film first came to me, there was no story- just a sequel idea. I wasn’t keen. But Bhushan (Kumar) sir convinced me, we worked on it, and everything changed. Today, wherever I go, kids call me Rooh Baba. I’m glad I eventually did it,” he said.

And his apprehension wasn’t only with regard to the sequel. Kartik knew that owning the title track of Bhool Bhulaiyaa would also be a challenge. “Aisa lag raha tha ki woh bhi kaise touch kare! So, we did it very differently – the video, the visuals, the choreography. It eventually became a standalone song. The entire thing became something unique and new,” remarked the actor, who further revealed that the fourth Bhool Bhulaiyaa film is currently in the scripting stage.

While discussing the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, Kartik pointed out that the success of a sequel has got nothing to do with a film’s franchise value. For him, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 became hits on their own merit. “A lot of times people say that a film worked because it’s a sequel of a popular predecessor film. It’s a myth. But I don’t think that a lot of sequels work. The core idea is that the story has to connect with the audience. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 connected with a large section of people,” he said.

Kartik Aaryan On Love Aaj Kal 2 Failure

Alternatively, he cited the example of his film with Imtiaz Ali, a spiritual sequel of the Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer, that had an underwhelming box office response. “I did another film called Love Aaj Kal but it didn’t connect somewhere down the line. It didn’t work. Thankfully, people are noticing this. Kisi film title ke peeche 2 ya 3 laga diya toh zaroori nahi hai ki woh film chalegi. It will never translate to people going to theatres and watching it. At the most, it will drive the audience to watch its trailer. A film will only work because of its own merit,” he added.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and its follow-up Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, became career-defining milestones for Kartik, especially as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 emerged as one of Bollywood’s biggest theatrical blockbusters post-Covid. Kartik Aaryan plays a fraud psychic Rooh Baba in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which also starred Kiara Advani and Tabu. The film, directed by Anees Bazmee, released in theatres in May 2022. After this, Kartik also starred in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, co-starring Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri. It was released in 2024.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 Update

Meanwhile, last month, Anees Bazmee confirmed Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 with Kartik Aaryan. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the director shared that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 is officially in development. “Most definitely. It is a work in progress. The love that the series has accrued over the years is unsurpassable. So yeah, it is happening. The only factor that I can confirm is Kartik,” Anees said.

Kartik Aaryan’s Upcoming Film

Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan will next be seen in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, alongside Ananya Panday. Directed by Sameer Vidwans, the film promises a simple yet sincere love story set against a visually captivating backdrop. The project is produced by Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures, with support from Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora, and Bhumika Tewari. Releasing on Christmas Eve, the film aims to offer audiences a light-hearted, feel-good romantic experience.

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