A Fun Watch That Can’t Decide What Year It’s Set In – Bhooth Bangla Explained
So I watched Bhooth Bangla on Netflix and honestly, I went in expecting a typical Bollywood horror comedy. Akshay Kumar, a haunted house, some ghosts, Rajpal Yadav doing his thing — you know what you’re signing up for. And that’s pretty much what I got.
But somewhere in the middle of watching it, something kept bothering me. Not in a way that ruined the experience. More like that feeling when something is slightly off but you can’t immediately put your finger on it.
And then I did.
Something Felt Off About the Timeline
Everyone in this film — including Akshay Kumar’s character Arjun Acharya — is using analogue mobile phones throughout the movie. Not smartphones, not even basic touchscreens. The old button phones that we all grew up with in the early 2000s.
Which made me think — okay, so this story is set sometime in that era. Makes sense given the setting and the overall vibe of the film.
But then a few scenes made me do a double take.
The HCL Monitor
Right at the beginning of the film there’s a video conferencing scene where a ritual is taking place. The monitor being used for that call is an HCL HCM 582 — a model that was launched back in 2003. And interestingly, that video call is the only time you see any kind of internet usage in the entire film. After that scene, it’s like the internet doesn’t exist. Nobody Googles anything, nobody is scrolling on a phone. For a story that feels rooted in the early 2000s, that actually tracks.
The Mercedes-Benz E280 CDI
There’s a scene where Arjun is being chased by the demon Vadhusur and he escapes by unlocking his car remotely using a keyfob. The car is a Mercedes-Benz E280 CDI which launched in India around 2006. By then people were starting to use early Symbian phones but smartphones as we know them today weren’t really a thing yet — especially not in smaller towns. So analogue phones being the norm? Still fits.
The Airport FIDS Board
Now this is the one that really caught my eye. There’s a scene where Dr. Vasudev played by Jisshu Sengupta is at the airport looking at the flight information display board. If you look carefully at that board in the background, the year showing on it is 2024.
That one’s a little hard to explain given everything else in the film pointing to an earlier era. Most likely the scene was filmed at a real working airport and that detail just slipped through without anyone catching it during production. It happens. But once you notice it, it does make you smile a little.
None of this takes away from the film. But if you’re someone who pays attention to the little things while watching, you’ll probably catch these too.
So How Was the Film Actually?
Akshay Kumar — The Comedy Felt a Bit Forced
I’ll be honest — the humour didn’t feel as natural as I expected. Akshay Kumar has done comedy brilliantly before but here it felt a little like he was trying too hard. The jokes are visible from a mile away and the delivery doesn’t always land the way it’s meant to.
The reunion with Rajpal Yadav is something fans were looking forward to and while there are moments, that old effortless chemistry they had in their earlier films together doesn’t quite show up here. It feels like it needed a bit more time to click.
Paresh Rawal and Asrani — Easily the Best Parts of the Film
These two carry the film on their shoulders without making it look like work. Paresh Rawal especially — every scene he’s in just feels natural and easy. Asrani matches that well. If you’re watching this film for anyone in particular, watch it for them.
Wamiqa Gabbi — Short Role but She Makes It Count
She doesn’t get a lot of screen time but she does well with what she has. Her character isn’t one you’ll remember long after the film ends but she plays it convincingly enough within the limited space given to her.
The Plot — Enjoyable but Predictable
If you’ve seen a few Bollywood horror comedies you’ll probably see most of the story coming. The ghost reveal, the backstory, the way it all wraps up — none of it will catch you by surprise. There are also a few loose ends that the film doesn’t fully tie up by the time the credits roll. Not dealbreakers, just things you notice.
Worth Watching?
Yes — just go in knowing what kind of film it is.
Bhooth Bangla is not trying to be a great film. It’s trying to be a fun, easy, no-pressure watch for a lazy weekend on Netflix. And on those terms it does its job well enough. You’ll laugh a few times, you might jump once or twice, and you’ll finish it without feeling like you wasted your evening.
Just keep an eye on that airport scene. You might spot what I spotted.
