It was a star-studded Monday in Calcutta when Kartik Aaryan and Vidya Balan breezed through the city to promote their Diwali biggie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, that releases in cinemas today. The actors, who play the iconic characters of swagstar ghostbuster Rooh Baba and the fierce spirit Manjulika respectively, charmed us when t2 caught up with them for a chat on the film and more.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa has been a hugely successful franchise and gained new fans with every movie. What do you think is the secret behind its steady and rising popularity?

Vidya Balan: I think everyone loves the unknown because it is equally exciting and scary, which is why the horror genre is so huge. You are nervous but you can’t stop laughing also. It is a very entertaining genre.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) was fantastic, it has given me so much love. I can’t believe that 17 years later, there is a third instalment and I am part of it (smiles). I don’t think I want to call it a formula, but sometimes, the audience connects with certain characters and genres and it just works.
Kartik Aaryan: I can talk about Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 because I was a part of it. It was a unique story in itself. It took the entertainment quotient to another level. All generations — kids, nana-nani, Mummy, Papa, youngsters — came in for that film. This is one franchise which can be watched by everyone and enjoyed with everyone. This kind of community viewing of films is very rare. The Bhool Bhulaiyaa films are such jo group ke saath dekhne mein mazaa aata hain.

In Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, we tried to maintain that and it rose to such a huge number because of the entertainment quotient. Plus, it was an original story, it was not a remake (like the first film). In fact, it is now being remade in the south. There was a freshness in the story. The third part is again a unique new story.

Vidya, what made you return to the third film after the first?

Undoubtedly, the script! Of course, I wanted to work with Anees (Bazmee, director) bhai and I did the first Bhool Bhulaiyaa with T-Series and in between I have done other films with them... Tumhari Sulu and Jalsa. I watched Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and enjoyed it. Before it, I didn’t have any context. I didn’t know ki franchise films kaise hoti hai in India but this seemed like: ‘Oh wow! It is a nice way of taking the franchise ahead. But it does not have to be the same story.’

While watching the second film, did you miss not being a part of it?

No. When they came to me for the second one, I was a bit nervous. Because I felt like: ‘Oh my God, people love Manjulika so much. I don’t want to touch that!’

Did you feel nostalgic making a return to the sets?

Not really. It is a completely different film, completely different director, completely different team. And yet, it is Manjulika. Same same, but different! (Laughs)

Manjulika has become a cult character over time. When did you first realise that this character had become so popular?

I didn’t realise when it released. It was a huge hit. But it was over the years that I realised that the one film that people would recognise me for was Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

I remember I was walking on a beach in Goa in the middle of the night with two of my team members. It was a very small beach. Suddenly I met this family of fisherfolk living on the beach. And they said: ‘Manjulika!’ That was 2008 or 2009. And since then, this is that one film. Newspaper vendors, people selling flowers at signals... they have all watched it.

And what do you think is the reason behind it?

I don’t even want to know as long as they love her. Khaane se matlab hai, recipe nahi chahiye! (Laughs)

Kartik, Rooh Baba is also immensely popular, which makes Bhool Bhulaiyaa a rare franchise which has two iconic characters. Did you approach playing him differently in the new film?

Kartik: I think I already did that with the second part. A lot of it came from Anees sir’s direction and then my traits were also there. Kids now wear Rooh Baba’s costume and they call me by that name, which is another level (of popularity). With Part 3, we wanted to continue that and we gave a lot of flair to the character. Anees sir has shot him beautifully. My intro scene is on Howrah Bridge (smiles).

Calcutta has been one of my favourite places to visit and now to shoot. I really want to do a full-fledged film based in Calcutta. In Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Rooh Baba is from Calcutta and how he gets there or what happens in Bengal is a different story altogether, which you will figure out in the movie.
Vidya: I think Kartik makes Rooh Baba special because Kartik is so relatable. The badmaash part of all the boys relate to him as Rooh Baba! (Laughs)

In what ways do you think the character has evolved?

Kartik: He is a ghostbuster and a quirky character, who I really, really love playing. I loved playing Rooh Baba in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and when I went to the sets of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, I totally enjoyed myself. Getting back to those traits, the way he speaks, the way things happen around him.... The moment I wore that attire, I felt it was a superhero cape. There are so many new things that Rooh Baba will be doing (in the third film) apart from what he has already done in Part 2.

The movie also has Madhuri Dixit. For kids of the ’80s and ’90s, dancing to her songs has been a part of growing up. What was it like to have her in the film?

Vidya: As a kid, while watching her on screen, I wanted to be Madhuri Dixit. We had a big mirror in our house, from floor to ceiling, and I would stand in front of that mirror, play her songs and keep dancing thinking I was Madhuri Dixit (smiles).

Vidya, what was the experience like with her in the dance face-off in Ami je tomar 3.0?

Vidya: She is dance! I was like: ‘Oh my God, I am gonna dance with her?!’ But then I told myself, what an opportunity it was to get to dance with Madhuri Dixit, who, like I said, is dance herself.

I did my rehearsals. It was a tough time because I was also promoting Do Aur Do Pyaar. They wanted to shoot soon so I rehearsed as much as I could with Chinni master (Chinni Prakash) and his assistants and I did my best. I knew that is all I can do because there is no question of competing or matching up or anything. I said: ‘Let me do my best and enjoy this moment of sharing the frame with Madhuri in a dance.’ And that is what I have done.
Kartik: I have been the biggest fan of Madhuriji and to have got the opportunity to work with her and be a part of the same frame was lovely! It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for an actor. There are certain opportunities you think that kaash mujhe yeh opportunity kabhi mile. It is like a dream and when we were doing the first scene together, I had so much nervous energy and so much excitement.

My family was all the more excited that yeh Madhuri Dixit ke saath kaam kar raha hai. For them it was a big deal and so was it for me too. Poora din main set pe tha! (Smiles)

It was tough for me at the start because the film is about Rooh Baba vs Manjulika. So for me to do that with Madhuri Dixit was sometimes like: ‘Yaar, main Madhuriji se aise baat kar raha hoon (laughs).’ Even when I say: ‘Manju, I am coming for you,’ woh main unko ya Vidyaji ke liye bol raha hoon, mere liye bada ajeeb sa tha ke main aise veteran ke baare mein aise bol raha hoon. Shuru shuru mein bada odd lagta tha ke main aise bolne wala hoon. But after a week, I got used to it.

Your favourite Madhuri Dixit film or dance number?

Kartik:Tezaab, Khalnayak... it is an endless list. Unka Ek do teen gaana (from Tezaab) pasand hai, Dhak dhak karne laga (from Beta)...

Vidya: Ek do teen, Channe ke khet main (from Anjaam)... so many... (hums Humko aajkal... from Sailaab) and Dhak dhak, everything she has done!

Kartik, what was your reaction when you first watched the 2007 film?

I was scared watching that movie! But it was funny and entertaining as well. There were so many iconic characters over there. Even today, whenever you see a scene of it on the Internet, it makes you laugh or you kind of get scared in certain moments.

How far do you think the humongous success of Stree2 this year has given a fillip to the horror-comedy genre?

Kartik:Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 released two years before it. At that time, not many films were being released in the horror-comedy genre. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, when it released, became a talking point. Woh mujhe zyadaa impactful lagaa. This year, we had not just Stree 2, but also Tumbbad (which re-released in theatres).

Eventually, only good movies will work. Thankfully, a lot of the family audience is loving this genre.

Horror-comedies are doing well this year, which is a great thing. But when we announced Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, six months after the release of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, we had no idea this genre would become so big.

The buzz is strong for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. People are excited to watch it, they are asking us questions... they are saying this is going to happen, that is going to happen... everyone has their own theories. I am not kidding. I am actually getting a new thought ki yeh ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4’ mein kar sakte hai....Vidya: Everyone gets excited when a genre works. This year, there has also been a smaller film like Munjya that did well too. It is a great time for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to be releasing and it is so great that Stree2 has done so well! It is very encouraging at a time when you feel that people have probably forgotten the feeling of coming to the theatres.

On a lighter note, are the two of you scared of ghosts?

Kartik: I have never experienced it, but if I did, I would be scared! (Laughs) There is a dialogue that Rooh Baba bolta hai ki: ‘Main sabke saamne toh aise act karta hoon, lekin sach bolo toh bhoot, chudail toh chhodiye koi chuhiya bhi aa jaati hai toh darr lagta hai.’ (Laughs out loud)Vidya: I haven’t experienced anything supernatural. But, of course, you experience energies. There are some places where you enter and it unsettles you. I don’t know how to explain that. I believe a lot in energies but I have not had a brush with any ghosts, thankfully! (Laughs)

Kartik, you shot here for the film. Vidya, your Calcutta and Bengal connection is well known and you speak Bengali so well. What are your fondest memories of the city? Any must-dos when you are here?

Vidya: Rahul Bose keeps telling me: ‘Don’t show off your Bengali’. I say: ‘Don’t be jealous because I speak it better than you!’ (Laughs). My fondest memories would be shooting during Durga Puja for Kahaani. Also, the Puja sequence in Parineeta where Sanjay Dutt and Saif (Ali Khan) do the dhunuchi naach. I think we shot it at Laha Bari (in north Calcutta).

I love Calcutta, I yearn to come back. I keep saying: ‘Bahut mahine ho gaye, ab chalo chalo’. Any opportunity to come here, I am here and then during Puja, it is magical. Iss baar aane ka mauka nahi mila. And I also love Calcutta in the winters. I always visit Kalighat when I am here. We are going today too.Kartik: I have got so much love from Calcutta. Initially when I came to Calcutta, main sochta tha kaun pehchanega itna, but I was actually shocked that I got so much love when I came here for the first time. I think it was during the time of Pyaar Ka Punchnama. Meri filmein log bahut zyaada dekhte hain, so mera ek bahut alag lagav hai with Calcutta, mujhe bahut homely feel hota hain yahan par. Jab main Howrah mein shoot kar raha tha mujhe itna accha laga ke life has come a full circle because I have come here for events and other things but I had not shot and to shoot my biggest film till date and usmein mere character ka intro here was a big thing!

Kartik, your steps in the title track of the second film became iconic. Did you feel the pressure to match up to that in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3?

Bahut pressure feel hua. When we did Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, we knew that we had something huge in our hands, or in our legs, actually (laughs). The zig-zag move became a viral sensation. For us to beat that was a big deal. It so happened that these artistes (Diljt Dosanjh and Pitbull) came on board. The staircase shot was never planned and we did no rehearsals... we just did it over there. Woh staircase wahaan dikh gaya and bas hum aise hi soch rahein thhe ki yeh staircase mein hi kuch kar lete hai... and it happened impromptu! Humlog ne chalu kiya steps karna and woh banta gaya, banta gaya on the stairs. The ‘Spooky Slide’ came through that. It has again become a viral sensation! This time we went with not just one hook step but also long shots of dancing. Thus, it became different and unique. People are uploading Reels doing the steps.

Vidya, you have been the face of Calcutta-based brand Senco Gold and Diamonds. What makes you a perfect brand fit with Senco?

Vidya: I remember when Mr Shankar Sen came to me many years ago. What a wonderful man and so unfortunate that he passed away during Covid-19. And he said that I embody the values they stand for.

So I guess that is your answer there, I don’t do anything. Our values align. They are expanding and with Joita and Suvankar taking charge of the business, they are making it more accessible by having more stores and also doing all kinds of jewellery. They are reaching out to all age groups, to all price points and their karigari is fabulous.

Kartik, in Halloween season, if you had the opportunity to dress as a character from a film, what would you pick?

Kartik: I would be Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson) from the Twilight films.