Priyadarshan admits 'one' mistake while showing Shah Rukh Khan's stardom in Irrfan Khan's 'Billu': 'Screenplay became loose'

Feted filmmaker Priyadarshan is set to explore the horror-comedy genre once again with his upcoming film ‘Bhooth Bangla’. The project is drawing attention as it marks his reunion with Akshay Kumar after a 14-year gap. As he prepares for the release, Priyadarshan took a moment to reflect on his filmmaking journey and the lessons learned, opening up about the highs and lows of his prolific career. Speaking about his 2009 film ‘Billu' (formerly 'Billu Barber'), featuring Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, he admitted that adding an "excessive number" of songs was his biggest mistake in the film, confessing that the musical interruptions compromised the emotional weight and pacing of the screenplay. He also shared insights on portraying Shah Rukh Khan’s character as a film star in the story.

Priyadarshan discusses showcasing Shah Rukh Khan’s superstardom

While speaking to Pinkvilla, a fan asked Priyadarshan if it was difficult to present Shah Rukh Khan as a superstar in the Irrfan Khan-led ‘Billu’. The director instantly responded that it required no effort on his part. “Just say Shah Rukh Khan as a star. Nobody can question that. So, I didn’t have to do anything in the script,” he said with a smile.

Priyadarshan opens up about 'Billu's emotional ending

During the same interview, Priyadarshan was also asked to shed light on the film’s conclusion. The audience member referred to the touching moment when Sahir Khan delivers an emotional speech about his friend Billu, who quietly walks away from the event. When the fan mentioned that the emotions in that scene didn’t quite reach viewers, the filmmaker openly accepted that the narrative pacing suffered because of the number of songs included. “I only made one mistake in the film. I put so many songs, which I shouldn’t have. So, the screenplay became a little loose,” Priyadarshan admitted. He further noted that it was intended to be one of Indian cinema’s most emotional sequences but failed to make the desired impact.

Priyadarshan gears up for ‘Bhooth Bangla’ and ‘Haiwaan’

On the work front, Priyadarshan’s upcoming project, ‘Bhooth Bangla’, features Akshay Kumar in the lead role. The teaser of the much-awaited horror-comedy has just been unveiled, promising a complete laugh riot. Alongside Akshay, the film boasts an ensemble cast including Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi, Manoj Joshi, Mithila Palkar, and several others. ‘Bhooth Bangla’ is slated to hit theatres on April 10, 2026. Following this release, the director-screenwriter will be working on ‘Haiwaan’, starring Saif Ali Khan.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”