Phone Bhoot

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*Phone Bhoot* (2022) is a horror-comedy that blends slapstick humor with supernatural elements. The film follows Major (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Gullu (Ishaan Khattar), two horror movie enthusiasts who attempt to turn their passion for the genre into a business by starting various horror-themed ventures, all of which fail. Their luck changes when they meet an actual ghost, Ragini (Katrina Kaif), at a ghost-themed party. Ragini, who can communicate with the dead, suggests that they start an exorcism business, and together they help trapped souls find moksha. However, their success catches the attention of a malevolent sorcerer, Atmaram (Jackie Shroff), who plans to use these souls for evil purposes, and the trio must work together to stop him.

The film is deliberately absurd and campy, embracing its silliness with gusto. It features ghosts with quirky personalities, such as a Bengali chudail tired of freelance work and a Punjabi daayan who loves to dance. The humor is self-referential, with moments that poke fun at the genre and include playful product placements and meta-jokes. One of the funniest moments comes when Ragini (Katrina Kaif) asks a character, “Aapki Hindi kamjor hai kya?” (Do you not know Hindi well?), adding to the film’s irreverent tone.

However, the film suffers from a lack of coherence. While it tries to be playful and chaotic, the pacing and editing seem disjointed. The overall execution feels rushed, possibly due to pandemic-related disruptions during production. Despite this, the film remains fun for those who enjoy light-hearted, silly comedies.

The cast fully embraces the absurdity of the script. Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khattar share great chemistry, with their goofy performances and playful reactions, especially toward Katrina Kaif’s ghost character. Katrina herself seems to be enjoying the role, displaying excellent comic timing. Jackie Shroff brings a unique touch to his role as a megalomaniac tantrik, having fun with his character’s eccentricities.

In conclusion, *Phone Bhoot* is a fun, quirky horror-comedy that doesn’t take itself seriously. If you enjoy light, goofy films that don’t require too much thought, it’s an enjoyable watch, though it could have benefitted from a more polished screenplay and editing.