‘The Bhootnii’ Hits Theatres: Sanjay Dutt and Mouni Roy Lead a Quirky Mix of Horror, Romance, and Laughter

The Bhootnii, written and directed by Sidhaant Sachdev, premiered in theatres across India on May 1, 2025. The horror-comedy stars Sanjay Dutt, Mouni Roy, Palak Tiwari, and Sunny Singh in lead roles.

Set around a haunted Virgin Tree at St. Vincent College, the story blends horror, romance, and comedy, where a spirit awakens every Valentine’s Day.

Plot and Cast Overview

In this film, Mouni Roy plays Mohabbat, a ghost with a distinctive style, while Sanjay Dutt takes on the role of a baba trying to keep the mischievous bhootni in check.

Despite limited pre-release buzz, there’s curiosity about its box office performance. According to Sacnilk, The Bhootnii collected about ₹40 lakhs net in India on its opening day.

Mouni Roy Applauds Sanjay Dutt’s Generosity

In a recent interview with IANS, Mouni Roy shared her admiration for Sanjay Dutt.

She said, “I am a huge fan of Sanjay Sir. I mean, who isn’t? He’s a very experienced actor, but not once did he show it off on the sets. He was always there to guide us, teach us, offer us his experience, and share his learnings. I was naturally very intimidated by a man of his stature, but he made sure to make me feel comfortable and was approachable to all of us.”

Disappointing Reception and Weak Execution

The film has received largely negative reviews, with critics highlighting its uneven humor, lack of real scares, and a poorly developed plot. The future of its box office fate rests on audience turnout over the weekend.

Bollywood’s Horror-Comedy Obsession Continues

Following the recent success of films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2, Bollywood appears to be milking the horror-comedy formula.

The Bhootnii is the latest in this lineup, but it disappoints on nearly every front—failing to deliver either scares or laughs.

Storyline: From Love to Horror via a Haunted Tree

Set in Saint Vincent College of Arts and Culture—visually reminiscent of Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year campuses—a large Virgin Tree becomes central to the plot.

The story follows three friends: Shantanu (Sunny Singh), Sahil, and Naseer. While Shantanu seeks true love, his friends chase casual attention.

After Shantanu is dumped, he desperately asks the tree to help him find love, leading to the arrival of Ananya (Palak Tiwari), who has already friend-zoned him.

This leads to a chaotic supernatural love triangle. Meanwhile, Mouni’s ghostly Mohabbat begins terrorizing students, and Baba Krishna Tripath (Sanjay Dutt) steps in to control the situation.

Performances: Flat Acting and Forced Humor

Sunny Singh, known for his roles in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, appears unmotivated throughout the film. Whether due to uninspired writing or his own disinterest, he delivers a lackluster performance.

He seems like the unprepared member of a group project—hoping the rest will carry him through, which they don’t.

Sanjay Dutt, armed with salt guns, iron rods, and even a bazooka, feels like a misplaced character from another genre. He appears disinterested, cracks few jokes, and shows no real energy in his performance.

Mouni Roy, despite an intriguing setup, fails to connect emotionally or deliver genuine frights. Her character feels like a shadow of her Naagin days, and her impact remains minimal.

Palak Tiwari emerges as one of the few tolerable elements in the film. Though prone to overacting, she manages to hold her ground. Her presence on screen is visually appealing, though her character lacks depth.

Supporting characters Naseer and Sahil try hard to elevate the film, but with minimal success. Sahil manages to draw a few laughs with his low-budget poetic one-liners.

Virgin Tree: The Unexpected Star

Interestingly, the Virgin Tree becomes the most memorable character in the movie. It steals scenes, holds attention, and even gets its own musical number—outshining the human cast.

The Film’s Major Flaws

The biggest issue lies in its inconsistent script. With jarring musical interludes that interrupt important scenes, the narrative constantly loses steam. Songs appear out of nowhere, disrupting the flow and making the story feel disjointed.

Despite a promising ensemble cast, the film fails to extract even passable performances. The 2-hour runtime drags endlessly, and by the time the climax arrives, it feels less like a resolution and more like a test of patience.

What Lies Ahead for Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt remains busy with multiple upcoming projects, including The Raja Saab, Housefull 5, Son of Sardaar 2, and Baaghi 4. He will also reprise his role as Raghu in Vaastav 2.

The Bhootnii may be another example of Bollywood’s formulaic approach falling flat.

With horror-comedy becoming the new trend, audiences can only hope that future releases manage to balance originality with genuine entertainment.