At the high-energy trailer launch of Bhooth Bangla in Mumbai today, the spotlight shifted from the film’s supernatural elements to the enduring bond between its leads. Tabu and Akshay Kumar, who have reunited on-screen after 26 years, shared heartwarming anecdotes about their 39-year-long friendship.
The “Bike-Ride” Beginnings
Before they were Bollywood superstars, Akshay and Tabu were students at the same dance academy. Akshay revealed that he has known Tabu for nearly four decades, to which she added a nostalgic detail: “He used to pick me up on a bike” to take her to their dance classes.
Despite the decades that have passed and the global fame they’ve achieved, Tabu noted that Akshay’s core personality remains untouched. She joked that even today, he is the same “disciplinarian” who will call you at the crack of dawn.
Tabu marveled at Akshay’s legendary consistency. “He is the same; he still wakes up at 4 AM and will insist on jogging at 5 AM,” she shared with the media. She added that his habit of giving unsolicited health advice – telling everyone what they should or shouldn’t eat- has been a constant since their teenage years.
The duo first worked together in the 1996 film Tu Chor Main Sipahi, and later in the 2000 cult classic Hera Pheri, also directed by Priyadarshan. Their collaboration in Bhooth Bangla marks their return to the screen together for the first time since their brief appearance in 2004’s Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.
For fans, this reunion isn’t just about a new movie; it’s a celebration of a rare, decades-old friendship in an industry often known for its fleeting connections. With Tabu fresh off her international stint in Dune: Prophecy and Akshay returning to his “OG comedy” roots, Bhooth Bangla is being touted as one of the most significant cinematic events of April 2026.