Is Akshay Kumar Losing The Plot?

Once Bollywood’s most reliable Khiladi, Akshay Kumar now finds himself in a worrying slump. The new release of Bhooth Bangla, his much-hyped horror-comedy reunion with Priyadarshan after 16 years, has opened to underwhelming numbers. Paid previews fetched Rs 3.5 crore, while Friday’s Day 1 collection stood at Rs 12.25 crore, taking the India net to Rs 15.75 crore so far. Worldwide gross has reached Rs 23.9 crore but these figures fall well below expectations for a big-budget genre film. Mixed-to-negative reviews and weak word-of-mouth have already signalled trouble ahead, with analysts projecting a lifetime India net of just Rs 75 crore at best. This latest disappointment is not the first. Between 2022 and early 2024, Akshay delivered a string of flops: Bachchhan Paandey, Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan, Ram Setu, Selfiee, Mission Raniganj, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Sarfira, and Khel Khel Mein. A brief 2025 revival with Sky Force and Housefull 5 offered hope, but Bhooth Bangla now threatens to reset the narrative of decline. Industry watchers point to deeper issues. Audiences are increasingly rejecting Akshay’s familiar mannerisms; the same over-the-top energy, predictable comic timing, and larger-than-life hero template that once worked. Overexposure remains a major complaint; the actor’s habit of releasing multiple films a year has led to fatigue. More critically, the storylines and narrations feel non-inventive and recycled, lacking the fresh writing that defined his golden run with Hera Pheri or Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Akshay has acknowledged past criticism and even spoken about audience calls for “kuch alag karo.” Unless he breaks the cycle with genuinely original scripts and reduced output, the once-bankable superstar risks watching his box-office dominance fade further. Bhooth Bangla may still surprise with a miracle hold, but the early signs suggest another chapter in a challenging new phase for the Khiladi.