Mumbai, April 16 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar-fronted much-awaited horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla has kicked off its box office journey on a promising note. The film recorded an impressive performance in its paid preview shows, surpassing early expectations and setting a positive tone ahead of its full-fledged release.

Bhooth Bangla Opens To 3.50 Crore Net In Paid Previews

According to early estimates, Priyadarshan's directorial has collected approximately 3.50-3.75 crore net from its paid previews across India. The trade was anticipating 2.50-3 crore net in previews, but the film has clearly surpassed the expectations due to positive reception buzz and early critics' reactions.

This figure is considered good for a non-holiday release, especially in the horror-comedy genre, which typically relies heavily on word-of-mouth and audience reception. The film's advance momentum was visible in key urban centres, with solid response in spot bookings which normally don't happen in previews.

The good start at the box office shows that the movie has been able to make a positive impact, and that should help it going forward. The combination of horror elements with comedy, something Akshay Kumar has successfully explored in past ventures, appears to have intrigued audiences, contributing to the encouraging initial turnout.

Solid Opening Day On The Cards

The response to paid previews suggests that Bhooth Bangla will be going into the full-fledged opening day with a lot more buzz and awareness. Initially, it looked like the movie would open in Jolly LLB 3's opening range (12.50 crores), but now, a 15+ crore net opening day, including previews, is well within reach, which is a healthy sign.

Depending on the spot, bookings remain good, and the opening of Bhooth Bangla may go further, which needs to be seen. If the general audience reception aligns with the critics' reviews, Bhooth Bangla could be in for a very good run at the box office.