This Diwali, fans have plenty of options with the release of two major Bollywood films: Rohit Shetty’s cop drama Singham Again, featuring Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor, and Anees Bazmee’s horror comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, starring Kartik Aaryan and Vidya Balan. Both films are the third entries in their respective franchises, raising the question: Do you need to watch the first two parts to enjoy these threequels independently?
The original Singham, released in 2011, introduced Ajay as the titular police officer, a role he reprises in this new installment. Kareena, who appeared as his love interest Avani in the sequel Singham Returns (2014), returns as well. However, viewers can enjoy Singham Again without prior knowledge of the earlier films. It’s only essential to know that Bajirao Singham, a cop, is married to Avani, a Cultural Ministry official, and they have a son.
Singham Again is more closely related to Sooryavanshi, the 2022 film that introduced Jackie Shroff’s character, Omar Bashir, who is one of the main villains in the new film. His backstory helps viewers understand the chief antagonist, Danger Lanka (Arjun Kapoor). Although Simmba (2018) is part of Rohit Shetty’s cop universe, it’s not necessary to watch it before viewing Singham Again.
The first Bhool Bhulaiyaa premiered in 2007, directed by Priyadarshan and featuring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan. The connection to the threequel lies solely in the character of Manjulika, portrayed by Vidya Balan. Audiences only need to know that she is a Bengali witch who was formerly a celebrated dancer in a royal court. In Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Vidya’s Manjulika comes from a different lineage, kingdom, and contemporary identity.
The film also connects to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), directed by Anees Bazmee, through the character Ruhaan, aka Rooh Baba, played by Kartik Aaryan. He returns with a new mission and a new love interest, portrayed by Triptii Dimri. While Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 revisits characters from the previous films, it is designed to stand completely on its own.
