Bollywood star Akshay Kumar recently shared a surprising anecdote about his son Aarav Bhatia while promoting his upcoming film Bhooth Bangla.
Speaking at a promotional event, the actor clarified that Bhooth Bangla is very different from his 2007 hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa, describing the new film as a fantasy horror with real ghosts rather than a psychological thriller.
During the interaction, Akshay revealed that Aarav was deeply frightened after watching Vidya Balan portray the iconic character Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
“He was afraid of Vidya for almost six years,” Akshay shared, adding that his son, who was a teenager at the time, couldn’t separate the actress from her on-screen persona.
So intense was the fear that Aarav would avoid Vidya whenever she visited their home. He even hesitated to look her in the eyes, convinced he was seeing Manjulika rather than the actress herself.
Akshay said he repeatedly tried to reassure his son that Vidya was just playing a role and was “a very good person,” but Aarav took a long time to overcome the fear.
Meanwhile, Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, is set to offer a completely different experience. The filmmaker emphasized that unlike Bhool Bhulaiyaa, which leaned on psychological elements, the new film is rooted in fantasy horror.
The film will begin paid previews on April 16, ahead of its theatrical release on April 17, 2026.