Vidya Balan to return in Kartik Aaryan's 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', Tabu declines the offer: Report

Akshay Kumar spearheaded Priyadarshan’s 2007 horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa and teaming up with him was Vidya Balan, who breathed fire into the dual role of Avani and the evil spirit Manjulika. 15 years later, it was director Anees Bazmee who directed the sequel with Tabu, Kartik Aaryan, and Kiara Advani. It was announced part three would come out on Diwali 2024. However, Times Now reports that Vidya could return for part three. A recent report by Pinkvilla said Tabu is not too keen to step into the character of Manjulika so early as it’s very close to her but the makers are keen to bring the film on the floors. Nothing about this is confirmed yet. A source, however, told Times Now, “ if you recall, Vidya Balan was a very important part of the first film of the franchise. In the second part, the female protagonist was played by Tabu. Now for part three they have gone back to Vidya. Though she has not signed the contract, she is very close to saying yes.” Last year, trade experts commented how  Kartik Aaryan is a self-made superstar. The actor entered the industry with a bag full of Bollywood dreams and no connections, no godfather or big banners to back him and has always delivered hits without such names, mostly with newer and more debutant director. Even Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was actually Anees Bazmee’s first after a long sabbatical. Taran Adarsh said, “Kartik Aaryan comes without the baggage of a godfather or a father who’s a producer or a financier or someone who is connected to films, he is a self-made star and that’s what people like about this guy. He’s played his character in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 completely to conviction and if you look at his career graph he’s played different kind of roles and delivered versatile performances over the years and most of his films have done very well at the box office. I think this is just the beginning and Kartik is going to taste bigger success in times to come.”