Akshay Kumar Reveals Son Aarav Was Terrified of Vidya Balan for 6 Years After Watching Bhool Bhulaiyaa

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar recently shared a rather amusing and telling anecdote about the lasting impact of the 2007 horror-comedy 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' on his son, Aarav. It turns out that young Aarav was so profoundly disturbed by Vidya Balan's portrayal of the terrifying Manjulika that he developed a six-year-long phobia of the actress.

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I was talking to my son, and he told me, when he saw Bhool Bhulaiyaa for the first time, he was scared of Vidya Balan for six years.

Kumar recounted how his son, upon watching the film for the first time, became convinced that Vidya Balan herself was the malevolent spirit from the movie. This fear was so intense that Aarav would actively avoid meeting Balan whenever she visited their home, refusing to make eye contact or even acknowledge her presence. He genuinely believed he was interacting with Manjulika, not the actress.

The actor admitted that he had to constantly reassure his son, explaining that Vidya Balan was a kind and friendly person, and not the character she played. However, Aarav remained unconvinced for years, a testament to Balan's powerful performance and the film's effective scare tactics. This prolonged fear highlights how deeply a compelling on-screen character can affect a young audience member.

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Whenever she came home, he refused to meet her, didn’t look into her eyes; he could see Manjulika in her.

This revelation came up during promotional events for Kumar's upcoming film, 'Bhoot Bangla,' directed by Priyadarshan, who also helmed 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa.' Kumar drew parallels between the two films, describing 'Bhoot Bangla' as a more child-friendly horror fantasy, akin to a Disney movie, in contrast to the psychological thriller elements of 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa.' The discussion also touched upon the trend-setting nature of 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' in the horror-comedy genre.

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I actually had to nurture him and tell him that she wasn’t Manjulika, she was Vidya, and she is a nice person. But he was never convinced. For six years, she was scarred.