Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 made a notable impact at the box-office, raking in ₹35.5 crore on its first day in India. This marks the biggest opening of Aaryan’s career, significantly surpassing the ₹13.45 crore debut of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022. Directed by Anees Bazmee, the film also marks Bazmee’s most successful release till date.

The third installment of the hit franchise features a star-studded cast including Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri. Set in Kolkata, the film combines elements of horror and comedy, building on themes that made its predecessors popular. Despite facing stiff competition from Singham Again, a major Diwali release helmed by industry heavyweights, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has managed to attract huge crowds and sustain impressive advance bookings.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh ​​shared his enthusiasm for the film on social media, calling it “remarkable” and highlighting its effective mix of horror, comedy and suspense. “#OneWordReview… #BhoolBhulaiyaa3: OUTSTANDING. Entertainment ka bada dhamaka… Horror comedy Great suspense… #KartikAaryan (excellent) – #AneesBazmee combo hits it out of the park… #MadhuriDixit #VidyaBalan amazing,” he posted.

Director Anees Bazmee expressed his gratitude for the reception of the film, which coincides with his birthday. “It’s the best birthday present I could ever get,” Bazmee told ANI. “I like watching movies with the audience to see their reactions live and I’m glad they like it.” He dismissed any notion of rivalry with Singham Again, stating, “I don’t consider it a clash. Both the films released on the same day and I hope both will do good business.”

The film performed strongly in major Indian cities. According to Sacnilk, Mumbai recorded 81.75% occupancy in 789 shows, while the National Capital Region (NCR) saw 79.50% in 957 shows. Pune had 57.25% occupancy in 357 screenings and Bengaluru reported 69.50% in over 250 shows. Hyderabad was at 56.00% for 202 runs. Kolkata showed a healthy occupancy of 77.00% in 257 screenings, while Ahmedabad had 78.75% in 558 shows. Chennai recorded 81.50% occupancy in 59 shows, Surat had 65.75% for 302 shows and Jaipur led with 86.00% in 118 shows. Chandigarh recorded 74.75% in 131 screenings, Bhopal had 75.25% for 61 shows and Lucknow recorded 84.75% occupancy in 170 shows.

Vidya Balan, who reprized her iconic role as Manjulika, attended a screening on the first day in Mumbai and expressed her joy. “I had a great time watching the first screening of the film on the first day at the Gaiety. Nothing better than seeing our audience happy. The main bhaut khush hu. I hope a large number of people come to theaters and watch the film,” she told ANI.