Bollywood’s horror-comedy scene gets another addition with The Bhootnii, starring Sanjay Dutt, Mouni Roy, Sunny Singh, and Palak Tiwari. Directed by Sidhaant Sachdev, the film attempts to weave supernatural horror with humor and tragic romance. Despite a promising concept, the movie suffers from poor execution, weak scripting, and inconsistent tone, ultimately leaving both critics and audiences disappointed.
In This Article:
While horror-comedies like Stree and Bhool Bhulaiyaa have set benchmarks in the genre, The Bhootnii sadly doesn’t meet the mark.
Plot Summary — Virgin Tree, Cursed Love, and a Confused Spirit
The story is set in the fictional campus of St. Vincent College, where a mythical “Virgin Tree” is believed to grant true love. Shantanu, played by Sunny Singh, approaches the tree with a broken heart, unknowingly awakening the ghost of Mohabbat, portrayed by Mouni Roy — a spirit cursed due to an unfulfilled love story.
As ghostly chaos erupts, Sanjay Dutt’s character Baba, an eccentric ghostbuster, is roped in to investigate. The plot then unfolds into a chaotic mix of spooky sequences, college comedy, and romantic flashbacks. However, rather than delivering thrills or laughs, the narrative often falls flat due to its lack of coherence and depth.
Performances — Big Stars, Small Impact
Sanjay Dutt as Baba
Sanjay Dutt plays a quirky ghostbuster who enters the story in a dramatic fashion but is let down by weak dialogue and repetitive humor. His character feels underutilized and directionless, despite his charismatic screen presence.
Mouni Roy as Mohabbat
Mouni Roy attempts to bring emotional depth to the ghostly character but is ultimately held back by the underwhelming script. Her romantic backstory feels rushed and lacks emotional impact.
Sunny Singh as Shantanu
Sunny Singh plays the central role with sincerity but struggles to shine amidst a confusing storyline. His chemistry with Mouni Roy is unconvincing, and his emotional scenes come off as superficial.
Palak Tiwari as Ananya
Palak Tiwari makes her theatrical debut with potential, but her role is more ornamental than impactful. She adds little to the plot, with minimal screen time and character development.
Technical Aspects — Weak on All Fronts
- Direction: Sidhaant Sachdev’s attempt to blend genres results in tonal inconsistency. The film shifts awkwardly between horror and slapstick, never committing to either.
- Writing: The dialogues often rely on forced jokes and stereotypes. The screenplay is patchy, with abrupt scene transitions and undercooked subplots.
- Cinematography: The visuals are uninspired. Even scenes meant to be eerie come off as amateurish due to poor lighting and camera work.
- Music: The background score tries to add energy but ends up feeling generic and overused. The songs are forgettable and don’t elevate the story.
Critical Reception — A Storm of Negative Reviews
Major film critics across the country have unanimously panned the film. Some have even gone so far as to assign a zero-star rating — a rare occurrence in mainstream Bollywood.
Key Critic Opinions
- Lacks plot, production value, sense, and sensibility.
- Neither scary nor funny — just boring.
- No emotional pull, no horror thrills — only regret.
- Attempts to entertain but ends up exhausting.
While a few platforms tried to find redeeming elements, even the most generous reviews admitted that the film could only appeal to those seeking mindless, low-stakes entertainment.
Audience Reactions — Disbelief and Disappointment
The general audience reaction mirrors that of the critics. On social media, users expressed confusion over the film’s tone and criticized the lack of originality. Memes mocking the “Virgin Tree” plot and Baba’s bizarre dialogues have gone viral, signaling public disappointment.
Some viewers found the film unintentionally hilarious, comparing it to a spoof rather than a serious horror-comedy. A few praised the performances of Sanjay Dutt and Mouni Roy individually, but even they admitted the film didn’t use them to their full potential.
Final Verdict — A Genre Experiment Gone Wrong
The Bhootnii is an unfortunate example of what happens when ambition isn’t supported by storytelling. The movie had the cast, the concept, and the budget — but lacked the direction, the writing, and the soul.
Rating: 1/5
Why it fails:
- Mismanaged genre blending
- Lack of cohesive storytelling
- Uninspired performances due to poor writing
- Technical aspects that don’t support the theme
If you’re a fan of horror-comedy, skip this one and rewatch Stree or Bhool Bhulaiyaa instead.
By – Nikita
