January 30, 2026 — Mumbai: Bollywood’s beloved duo Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan have once again grabbed headlines with an unexpected and fun-filled birthday surprise for legendary filmmaker Priyadarshan on his 69th birthday today. The light-hearted video shared on social media instantly became one of the most talked-about moments in Indian entertainment — combining nostalgia, humor, and a reminder of this star pair’s unforgettable screen chemistry.
Who is Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is a legendary Indian film director and screenwriter, best known for his hilarious comedy movies in Malayalam and Hindi cinema. Born on January 30, 1957, he just turned 69 in 2026 and has made over 90 films in his 40-year career.
His upcoming movies
Priyadarshan has two confirmed upcoming movies lined up for 2026, based on the latest buzz as of January 30, 2026. Here's the rundown in simple points
- Bhooth Bangla (also called Bhoot Bangla): A horror-comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi. Set for release on April 2, 2026. This one's got fans excited after that viral birthday video with Akshay and Vidya Balan.
- Haiwaan: An action thriller featuring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. Shooting just wrapped, with a 2026 release planned. Priyadarshan's mixing thrills with his signature fun twists here.
Bollywood Stars Bring Laughter to Priyadarshan’s 69th Birthday
Actor Akshay Kumar greeted actor-director Priyadarshan and sent a heartfelt and playful message to commemorate Priyadarshan’s 69th birthday, in a wonderful video posted to his Instagram account. Dressed casually, Kumar sat on a wooden rocking horse in the video; throughout the video he gave a playful message to Priyadarshan using his legendary comic timing and a mischievous smile.
Akshay Kumar wished Priyadarshan “many, many happy returns of the day, Priyan sir! Wow, the big 69 is here..that is the greatest age sir!” He continued with, “I wish you all the love and luck in the world and all the good health as well!” After a few moments Akshay teased about a “friend of mine that wants to send you a wish as well sir…” Immediately afterwards…
Vidya Balan’s Surprise Cameo Steals the Show
Out of nowhere, Vidya Balan appeared in the video as a playfully dressed-up character reminiscent of her legendary Manjulika from the blockbuster film Bhool Bhulaiyaa (released in 2007). She popped-up from behind a colourful mini playhouse while wishing Priyadarshan happy birthday, and to wish him luck on his later release of Bhooth Bangla.
They finished the video by laughing together, as they used to do on-screen as one of Bollywood’s best movie pairings. The spontaneity of their performance made the video viral within minutes.
Why Fans Are Calling This Reunion Special
A Nostalgic Comeback
Akshay and Vidya have a deep cinematic history, starting with hits like Bhool Bhulaiyaa and continuing with films like Mission Mangal. Their reunion for this birthday message instantly brought back nostalgic feelings for fans — prompting reactions like “Best jodi in Bollywood!” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa vibes forever!” across social platforms.
Playful, Fun-Filled Birthday Message Goes Viral
Unlike a typical birthday greeting, Akshay’s quirky style — plus Vidya’s surprise cameo — made this message an event in itself. Fans noticed how the video wasn’t just a shout-out but a small piece of creative entertainment in true Bollywood style.
Connection to Upcoming Film Bhooth Bangla
The birthday video also smartly teased Priyadarshan’s upcoming horror-comedy film Bhooth Bangla — a project starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Tabu, and Rajpal Yadav, and produced by Balaji Telefilms and Akshay’s Cape of Good Films.
Scheduled for a theatrical release on April 2, 2026, Bhooth Bangla has been one of the most anticipated films of the year. This birthday surprise added fresh buzz around its launch — especially since Priyadarshan and Akshay are reuniting creatively after more than a decade.
Bhoot Bangla: The Big Reveal Behind the Fun
Bhoot Bangla is the most talked about movie at the moment. Directed by Priyadarshan, this film is going to star Akshay Kumar along with Paresh Rawal, as the two of them are back together in a Priyadarshan film like Bhool Bhulaiyaa's area. There are also very many rumours that Vidya is going to be in this movie since she's given a shout out (she hasn't confirmed anything yet) but the video suggests "yes, please!" to Vidya.
The film will have ghosts, giggles and non-stop action! The first part of filming has already been completed by late 2025, but more filming is coming. Priyadarshan's style is known for its fast-paced scripts with a lot of twists and turns, so it fits Akshay's high-energy persona.
We will also see a lot of bloopers, dance sequences, as well as scary moments that we can laugh at, think of all the great things you remember from the film! Most people will remember what Vidya was like as the haunted Avni, and Akshay was like as the comical doctor in Bhool Bhulaiyaa; Bhoot Bangla will hopefully be the sequel that we have been seeking, especially because of the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and 3 at the box office.
What’s Next for Bhoot Bangla Release
New release date not set yet, but sources say around mid 2026. With Akshay Kumar having a very busy schedule filming Sky Force and Housefull 5, the timing for his comedy comeback is right. After returning to meaty roles since Neecha Nagar, Vidya Balan has also been looking into films with a bit of fun (ghosts).
Priyadarshan has hinted at "big surprises" during promo interviews as well as bringing back the vibe of Babu Bhaiya as played by Paresh Rawal which equals creating even greater chaos. If Vidya comes onboard, then this movie will be a box-office hit.
From a marketing standpoint this is very smart as using birthday celebrations can generate buzz without traditional forms of advertising. Therefore, expect trailers out soon with teaser trailers for funny parts forthcoming.
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