Celebrating 18 Years of Bhagam Bhag: The Hilarious Duo That Captivated Audiences

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Eighteen years back, Bollywood dropped a hilarious comedy that’s still a fan favorite today. Priyadarshan’s Bhagam Bhag hit theaters on December 22, 2006, and it’s still loved for its crazy humor, amazing cast, and iconic lines. This film is a perfect example of how Bollywood mixes slapstick comedy with a captivating plot.

Neeraj Vora penned the script for Bhagam Bhag, which was produced by Dhilin Mehta and Suniel Shetty. The supporting cast features a lineup of talent including Lara Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Jackie Shroff, Arbaaz Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, Razak Khan, Sharat Saxena, and Asrani, alongside the main stars Akshay Kumar, Govinda, and Paresh Rawal.

A Narrative Rich in Surprises

The story follows a group of actors who head to London for a show but end up turning on each other, becoming fierce rivals of a drug dealer and his gang after being falsely accused of murder. To impress the director, two actors vying for the lead role try to recruit a female actor. As they get caught up in a messy world of drug dealing and unresolved murders, things spiral out of control.

Govinda's comedic take on Babla and Akshay Kumar's spot-on humor as Bunty made for a hilarious pair that had the audience roaring with laughter. Paresh Rawal, playing the stressed-out director Champak, brought even more comedy to the mix. Lara Dutta’s role as the enigmatic Munni added just the right amount of intrigue and allure to the film.

The Cinematic Influences Behind Bhagam Bhag

The 1958 classic Vertigo inspired the Malayalam movie Mannar Mathai Speaking, which in turn influenced some elements of Bhagam Bhag. The 2008 remake was titled Brahmanandam Drama Company in Telugu.

Bhagam Bhag drew its main idea from the Malayalam movie Mannar Mathai Speaking and borrowed its humor from the similarly named Nadodikkattu. The climax's plot twist was inspired by the 1999 Marathi thriller Bindhaast, which Priyadarshan had previously adapted into Snegithiye and Raakilipattu in Tamil and Malayalam. The final funny scene took cues from the classic 1963 film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Even though critics had their reservations, the film turned out to be a box office hit when it premiered on Christmas Eve in 2006, eventually ranking as the ninth highest-grossing film of that year.

Is a sequel on the way?

Word on the street is that Akshay Kumar snagged the rights to Bhagam Bhag from Shemaroo back in November 2024 and is diving into the making of Bhagam Bhag 2. The team behind the film has kicked off the scriptwriting phase, bringing in fresh writers to capture the fun and laughter that made the original a hit. This sequel is expected to start filming in 2025 and hit theaters in 2026, featuring the original cast, including Paresh Rawal, Govinda, and Kumar.

In the meantime, Bhagam Bhag remains a beloved classic, celebrating the chaos, friendship, and humor that keeps audiences smiling. It’s a reminder of Bollywood’s golden age of comedy, leaving us eager for more films like it in the future.