The horror-comedy genre is taking over the box office, and another film has joined the list. The Bhootnii, starring Sanjay Dutt, Mouni Roy, Palak Tiwari, and Sunny Singh, has released its trailer. Produced by Sanjay Dutt and Deepak Mukut, the film is directed by Sidhaant Sachdev. While expectations were high, the trailer suggests that The Bhootnii might struggle to leave an impact.
The biggest issue with this horror comedy is that the comedy feels horrifying, and the horror ends up being funny. The storyline revolves around a so-called “virgin tree” on a college campus. However, what makes it unconvincing is seeing a 30+ Sunny Singh playing a college student and romancing Palak Tiwari. Their on-screen pairing doesn’t seem very believable, making it difficult to engage with the story.
Then there’s The Bhootnii herself—Mouni Roy—who introduces herself as Mohabbat. Yes, that’s the name of the ghost, but don’t dare call her a “chudail,” as per Sanjay Dutt’s ghostbuster character. The film attempts to include witty one-liners and comedic punches, but most of them fail to land properly. Some jokes feel forced, including an unnecessary religious reference and other dialogues that don’t add to the humor.
Surprisingly, despite being named The Bhootnii, the titular character barely appears in the trailer. Both Mouni Roy and Palak Tiwari have limited screen presence, which makes it difficult to understand their significance in the plot. There is even a Naagin reference in the trailer, which should have been a highlight considering Mouni Roy’s history with the iconic TV show. However, despite her performance and expressions, it all just reminds the audience of Naagin, making her transformation into a ghost feel repetitive rather than unique.
As for Palak Tiwari, her role in the trailer seems confusing. It is unclear if she is The Bhootnii or not, which adds to the chaos rather than intrigue. Her character seems to serve no real purpose apart from causing confusion.
With the success of recent horror comedies like Stree 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Munjya, and Aranmanai 4, this genre has been thriving at the box office. However, The Bhootnii does not seem to offer anything new or exciting. Unlike its successful counterparts, the trailer fails to deliver solid horror or engaging comedy.
So, does The Bhootnii trailer offer anything beyond scary comedy and comic horror? Sadly, no. The lack of a strong narrative, forced jokes, and underwhelming character presence make it a weak contender in the horror-comedy lineup. With an overcrowded market of horror comedies, The Bhootnii will have to work hard to stand out when it hits theaters.
Will this film surprise the audience, or will it fade into obscurity? Only time will tell. For now, the trailer does little to spark excitement, leaving audiences skeptical about what the full movie has to offer.
