Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 triumphs against all odds – A modern David vs. Goliath tale that will go down as one of Bollywood’s BIGGEST surprises!

 This Diwali, the Bollywood box office witnessed one of the biggest showdowns of all time, with Kartik Aaryan's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (BB3) pitted against Ajay Devgan-led Singham Again (SA) and an ensemble cast of Bollywood heavyweights including Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh and Tiger. Shroff, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. The star-studded Singham Against All Odds has had a crushing impact on the industry, with early opinion polls and box office distribution suggesting that Kartik is facing seemingly impossible odds. 

 In pre-release polls, it was well ahead of Singham Again. In a Twitter poll conducted by Bollywood Hungama on August 19 (104,527 votes), 58.6% chose Singham Again as their first choice, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 garnered 40%, with a minority interested in both or neither. A second poll conducted by Taran Adarsh on October 19 further strengthened support for Singham Again, with 77.1% of 109,374 voters choosing it as their first choice. The pre-match statistics were disheartening for Kartik. The stars of Singham Again are industry heavyweights, having delivered over 50 films with a combined gross of over 100 million. Kartik, on the other hand, had only achieved the 100 crore mark in his career twice before Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. 

Kartik's decision to remain resolute and release BB3 in direct competition with such mega releases despite the difficulties demonstrated his growing confidence with his fan base and the enduring appeal of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa series. Despite these indicators, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 achieved a significant box office success that not only shocked but also shocked the industry. In terms of box office, Singham Again took the top spot with an impressive opening day gross of 43.70 crore, closely followed by Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 with 36.60 crore. To be honest, no one expected Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to open with such numbers. The opening day box office gross was predicted to be around 200 crore. 

The gap between the films remained small throughout the weekend. Singham closed its opening weekend with $125 million, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 made a respectable $110.2 million. At the end of the first week, Singham had reached $186 million, with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 not far behind at $168.86 million, making the difference in net collections in India just $1.6 billion. Nobody, neither in the industry nor in the audience, thought this was possible. But it happened. If both the films had not been released together, the combined box office could have been even higher, as both the films would have had a chance to cross their individual milestones more comfortably. Rather than the estimated loss of Rs 800-900 crore due to audience split, both films combined could have earned the same amount or even more.

 Overseas figures also indicate Kartik's remarkable appeal outside India, with BB3 coming in almost on par with Singham Again. This unexpected performance highlights Kartik's ever-growing popularity and the strength of his solo presence, even against the industry's biggest stars. Kartik may not have the track record of Singham Again's competitors, but his decision to release Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 alongside its competitors was a bold statement of belief in his work and commitment to his audience. In an industry where solo fame is often overshadowed by ensemble casts, Kartik's no-holds-barred attitude and ability to maintain his place at the box office underscore his emergence as a Bollywood powerhouse. His decision to take on such a big franchise wasn't just because of the competition. It was a testament to his belief and determination to carve out a niche for himself and pit the Bhool Bhulaiyaa series against the Singham series. This Diwali, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 didn't just take on Singham again; it redefined the formula for box office success. Kartik's performance showed that solo stars are alive and well in Bollywood and audiences are behind his unique charm and charisma. On the back of Singham Again's impressive multi-starrer roster and his first lead on screen, Kartik's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 proved that in today's Bollywood, talent, belief and fan loyalty can bridge the gap despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The real David vs. A Goliath tale, the battle of Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 embodies Kartik Aaryan's boldness and rise to stardom. The film defied both the numbers and the doubters, proving its ever-increasing appeal by nearly tying BB3 at the box office by the end of its first week. This wasn't just a battle of films; it was a testament to the conviction of a man who stood his ground against industry giants and emerged victorious under his own steam. Kartik and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3's journey will be remembered as one of Bollywood's biggest surprises, a reminder that with courage and the love of fans, even the toughest obstacles can be overcome.