Bhoot Police released in 2021 directly on OTT, and now, the makers are gearing up to expand it with a sequel. The first film, directed by Pavan Kirpalani, starred Saif Ali Khan and Arjun Kapoor as quirky ghost hunters alongside Jacqueline Fernandez and Yami Gautam. Bhoot Police found its audience on OTT, especially for its light-hearted take on the horror-comedy genre. 

Pinkvilla has exclusively learnt that Bhoot Police 2 is officially in development, and acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan has been onboarded to direct the sequel. Yes, you read that right! With Priyadarshan’s mastery of comedy with strong storytelling, it will be interesting to see what’s in store. “The filmmaker is charging a fee of Rs 21 crore for the project,” confirms an insider. 

A little birdie also told us, “While the sequel retains the core idea of a horror-comedy, the casting will see a complete refresh. Saif Ali Khan and Arjun Kapoor will not be returning for the second installment. Instead, the makers are planning to introduce a new pairing that can bring a fresh energy to the franchise.”

“The idea is to reinvent the franchise with a new duo. The makers are looking at two actors — one senior and one junior to create an interesting combo. It’s a proper horror comedy, staying true to the genre but more of a theatrical treatment,” a source close to the development reveals. 

The film is expected to go on floors by the end of the year, once the casting is locked and pre-production is wrapped up. With Priyadarshan at the helm, Bhoot Police 2 aims to go bigger. Well, as horror-comedies continue to find favour with audiences, Bhoot Police 2 is shaping up for a fresh lease of life with a new cast and director. The film will be backed by producers Ramesh Taurani and Akshai Puri.

Rani Mukerji is a powerhouse in the Indian entertainment industry. Following her debut in Biyer Phool in 1996, she has grown to the top of the scene with impressive roles that have framed a career lasting three decades. Ahead of the release of the next instalment of her cop franchise film, Mardaani 3, she sat down with Pinkvilla to speak exclusively about her acting and how receiving a National Award with the 2023 film Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway was important. She opened up about getting the script for the project during a difficult time in her own life, following her miscarriage with her second child.

Rani Mukerji talks about receiving Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway script during a tough time in life

Sharing how she picks stories that make an impact and spread awareness, the actress revealed that the decision to star in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway came from a similar thought. She was sent the project while she was recovering from the loss of her second child in 2020, which made the experience that much more important for her. Rani Mukerji told Pinkvilla, “Wo jo kahani thi wo mujhe bhi aise ek mod pe hua tha, matlab wo film mere paas aayi thi, jab maine mera dusra baccha kho diya tha. Toh yeh sense of loss tha mera bohot aur wo kahani sunke mai itna judd gayi aur maine bola ye kahani mujhe batani hai.” 

(That story came to me at a time when I had lost my second child [due to a miscarriage]. So my sense of loss was huge, and hearing that film’s story, I got attached to it and wanted to let it be known to people.)

Watch the video below.