Abhishek Bachchan's return to the ‘Housefull’ franchise promises more laughter, adding another chapter to his legacy of comedy hits, from ‘Bol Bachchan’ to ‘Dostana.’
Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Sajid Khan, the ‘Housefull’ franchise has emerged as a standout collection of films, tickling audiences' funny bones with its humour. It presently holds the title of the highest-grossing comedy film series in Indian cinema. Featuring Akshay Kumar and Ritesh Deshmukh in all its entries, the franchise welcomed Abhishek Bachchan in ‘Housefull 3,’ where he portrayed Bunty, a wannabe rapper forced by circumstances to feign disability. Bachchan is now set to rejoin the cast for the fifth instalment, alongside Kumar, gearing up to commence shooting for this film. Let's delve into films where the actor's comedic skills had us in stitches!
Directed by Rohit Shetty, ‘Bol Bachchan’ is an action comedy featuring Ajay Devgan, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin, Prachi Desai, Krushna Abhishek, Neeraj Vora, and Archana Puran Singh. Loosely inspired by the 1979 classic ‘GolMaal’ by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, it follows a script by writers Yunus Sajwal and Farhad-Sajid, based on a story by Shetty. In the film, Abhishek Bachchan's character endeavours to conceal his true identity from Prithviraj (played by Ajay Devgn). He adeptly portrays two personas: one as the earnest and dedicated Abhishek Bachchan, and the other as Abbas Ali, a classical dancer with effeminate traits.
Directed by Shaad Ali and penned by Jaideep Sahni, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ is a crime comedy film, drawing inspiration from the 1967 American movie ‘Bonnie and Clyde.’ Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Rani Mukerji headline the cast, marking the beginning of several collaborations between the elder and younger Bachchan (father and son, respectively). Abhishek Bachchan and Mukerji portray the titular con artist duo, while Amitabh Bachchan takes on the role of the DCP determined to catch them. The film emerged as a commercial triumph and garnered favourable reviews from critics, who lauded its direction, inventive narrative, screenplay, soundtrack, humour, costumes, styling, and the performances of its ensemble cast. And of course, the song ‘Kajra Re’ from the film remains memorable.
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, ‘Dostana’ is a romantic comedy starring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, and Priyanka Chopra in leading roles. Set in Miami, the film revolves around two men who feign being gay to secure an apartment with a girl, only to find themselves falling for her genuinely. Widely acclaimed for its style and trend-setting narrative, ‘Dostana’ was ranked #1 by Filmfare in a 2013 poll. A commercial success, it amassed over Rs.871 million, solidifying its position as one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2008. At the 54th Filmfare Awards, ‘Dostana’ earned 9 nominations, including Best Film, Best Actor (Bachchan), Best Supporting Actress (Kher), and Best Music Director (Vishal–Shekhar).
‘Dasvi’ marks the directorial debut of Tushar Jalota, presenting a social comedy featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam, and Nimrat Kaur. Bachchan portrays an uneducated politician, while Gautam takes on the role of an IPS officer. The film garnered mixed reviews, with acclaim directed towards its storyline, humour, performances—especially those of Bachchan, Kaur, and Gautam—and its social message. Abhishek Bachchan's performance earned him the Best Actor (Male) award at the 2022 Filmfare OTT Awards.
Directed by Rohan Sippy, ‘Bluffmaster’ is a crime comedy film featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Mishra, Boman Irani, and Nana Patekar. Adapted from the 2000 Argentine film ‘Nine Queens,’ the storyline revolves around a conman who, after being abandoned by his girlfriend and discovering he is terminally ill, resolves to mentor a new apprentice before his demise.
