Housefull 5: A Cinematic Carnival of Chaos, Comedy, and Conundrums
Housefull 5 is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language comedy thriller film co-written and directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, Warda Nadiadwala and Firuzi Khan under production banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. It marks the fifth installment of the Housefull franchise.
The film features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangada Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Soundarya Sharma, Chunky Pandey, Nikitin Dheer and Johnny Lever.
A murder mystery comedy, the film follows multiple imposters who claim to be the son of a recently deceased billionaire as they compete for his fortune while aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Released on 6 June 2025, the film features two distinct versions, each showcasing a different climax sequence: Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B.
Plot
On the lavish occasion of his 100th birthday, billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal throws an opulent celebration aboard a luxury cruise ship. Joining him are his son Dev, adopted son Shiraz, loyal bodyguard Batuk, and an entourage of board members and social elites.
Before the day of departure however, Ranjeet suddenly dies of a heart attack. Panicked by the potential fallout on the stock market and Ranjeet Group’s shares, Dev and the board members conspire to keep the death a secret – at least until the cruise ends.
The situation gets weirder when Lucy, Ranjeet’s lawyer, opens his holographic will and reveals a shocking clause: Ranjeet’s entire £69 billion fortune is to be inherited by Jolly, his first son from his first marriage to Shakuntala Devi.
But chaos ensues when not one – but three different men, each going by the name Jolly (Jalabuddin, Jalbushan, and Julius) – arrive with their respective wives, all claiming to be the rightful heir. Strangely, all three have the same distinguishing birthmark—an identical butt scar.
Dev suggests a DNA test to determine who the true heir is because there is no clear response. The test is scheduled, and the results are promised the next morning.
Meanwhile, passengers and guests let loose for a wild night, unknowingly drugged by none other than the eccentric Aakhri Pasta, who spiked everyone’s drinks with a mysterious mix. Everyone aboard is unable to recall the events of the night and the morning begins.
Confusion turns to horror when the doctor responsible for the DNA test is found murdered, and panic grips the ship. With the inheritance now up in the air, suspicion immediately falls on the three Jollys and their wives.
In an effort to contain the chaos, Dev orders the six suspects locked up in the ship’s prison until Interpol arrives. After stealing the keys from a sleeping Batuk, they get away and discover Ranjit’s body.
The women, meanwhile, crawl through the vents. Their job is to destroy the blood samples that the Jollies were forced to give for a DNA test that will confirm whether any of them is Ranjit’s son. The door opens, and in walks Bedi. He looks at the doctor’s body (the lab is also the morgue for some reason), takes something, wipes off his fingerprints, and leaves. The women recorded it.
After fending off a now-awake Batuk and Lucy, the Jollies take the body to a room. They conceal the body in the cupboard when someone knocks on the door.
But later, the body becomes Bedi’s, who is shot in the head. Ignorant of what they are carrying, they take the body to the lobby. Enter Baba and Bhiddu, two quirky, recently suspended London cops looking to redeem themselves. They take advantage of this chance to solve the well-publicized murder and be reinstated. But their unconventional methods lead to more confusion, especially when additional passengers start turning up dead.
To tighten control over the situation, Interpol Officer Daghdu – and former boss of Baba and Bhiddu—boards the cruise and takes over the case. Now, with a body count rising, secrets spilling, and alliances shifting, everyone aboard becomes a suspect. The investigation delves into hidden scandals, erroneous identities, and twisted motives.
In two different endings, the real killer is eventually revealed in different versions of the movie. • Housefull 5A Ending: Jalbushan is exposed as the killer, but he was merely a pawn. The real mastermind was Dev, Ranjeet’s son, who plotted the entire scam to eliminate his father and manipulate the inheritance using a fake Jolly he personally invited.
• Housefull 5B Ending: The same killer is revealed, Jalbushan, but this time, the true puppet master is Maya, the company’s cunning CFO and Baba’s ex-wife. Desperate to settle her enormous gambling debts, Maya orchestrated the murders to reroute Ranjeet’s wealth into the company, under her control.
As the dust settles, the real Jolly, named Jalal, arrives on the cruise. A charismatic and ultrarich entrepreneur in his own right, Jalal reveals he never wanted his father’s money to begin with.
He makes the surprising announcement that everyone else can split the entire fortune. In the end, Julius marries Sasikala, Jalabuddin marries Kaanchi, Jalbushan and Dev/Maya are arrested, Zara marries Jalal, and Daghdu reinstates Baba and Bhiddu.
Cast
- Akshay Kumar as Julius (Jolly 3)
- Abhishek Bachchan as Jalbhushan (Jolly 2)/ Killer 1
- Riteish Deshmukh as Jalabuddin (Jolly 1)
- Jacqueline Fernandez as Sasikala
- Sonam Bajwa as Zara Akhtar
- Nargis Fakhri as Kaanchi
- Sanjay Dutt as Chief inspector Bhiddu
- Jackie Shroff as Chief inspector Baba
- Nana Patekar as Superintendent Dhagdu Hulgund, Bhiddu and Baba’s senior police officer
- Chitrangda Singh as Maya, Baba’s ex-wife, CFO of board of directors/ Killer 2 (Housefull 5B)
- Dino Morea as Bedi Chaudhury, COO of board of directors
- Fardeen Khan as Dev Dobriyal, Ranjeet Dobriyal’s second son, CEO of board of directors/ Killer 2 (Housefull 5A)
- Chunky Panday as Aakhri Pasta
- Johnny Lever as Batuk Patel
- Shreyas Talpade as Shiraz, CMO of board of directors
- Ranjeet as Ranjeet Dobriyal
- Soundarya Sharma as Lucy, Baba’s partner and Ranjeet Dobriyal’s lawyer
- Nikitin Dheer as Captain Sameer
- Akashdeep Sabir as Doctor Aman Joshi
- Archana Puran Singh as Shakuntala Devi, Ranjeet Dobriyal’s first wife and Jalal’s mother (Photo only)
- Bobby Deol as Jalal Dobriyal (Real Jolly), Ranjeet Dobriyal’s first son (cameo appearance)
- Mithun Chakraborty as Jaggu Baba, seral killer (Photo only)
credited from wikipedia
Setting Sail on a Cinematic Cruise
On June 6, 2025, Bollywood’s most audacious comedy franchise, Housefull, returned with its fifth installment, Housefull 5, a film that dares to push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling with a bold experiment: two distinct climaxes, Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B.
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, this comedy-thriller unfolds aboard a luxurious cruise ship, weaving a tale of mistaken identities, slapstick humor, and a murder mystery that keeps audiences guessing.
With a sprawling ensemble cast led by Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan, supported by a cavalcade of stars including Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, and Jacqueline Fernandez, Housefull 5 is a cinematic spectacle that revels in its excess, defies logic, and embraces absurdity.
This 5,000-word exploration dives deep into the cinematic style of Housefull 5, dissecting its visual grandeur, narrative structure, thematic underpinnings, and the audacious dual-climax strategy that has sparked both intrigue and controversy.
We’ll examine how the film balances its signature slapstick comedy with a suspenseful whodunit, how its aesthetic choices amplify its larger-than-life persona, and why its polarizing reception reflects broader tensions in Bollywood’s comedic landscape.
Buckle up for a rollercoaster ride through a film that’s as chaotic as a monsoon storm and as glittering as a Bollywood dance sequence.
The Cinematic Canvas: Visual Aesthetics and Production Design
A Floating Palace of Extravagance
Housefull 5 is a visual feast, a kaleidoscope of opulence that transforms a luxury cruise ship into a playground for cinematic excess. The film’s setting—a sprawling vessel named Aiee, a cheeky nod to the billionaire patriarch Ranjeet (played by the veteran actor Ranjeet)—is a character in its own right.
Filmed on an actual cruise ship sailing from Newcastle to Spain, Normandy, Honfleur, and Plymouth over 40 days, the production design screams grandeur.
The ship’s interiors, with their gleaming chandeliers, infinity pools, and mirrored ballrooms, evoke a sense of decadence that aligns perfectly with the Housefull franchise’s penchant for over-the-top aesthetics.
Cinematographer Vikas Sivaraman paints the cruise with a glossy sheen, using wide-angle shots to capture the sprawling decks and vibrant color palettes to emphasize the film’s larger-than-life tone.
The camera glides through crowded scenes, weaving between sequined gowns and tailored tuxedos, creating a sense of controlled chaos that mirrors the narrative’s frenetic energy.
The production design, with its meticulously crafted sets resembling opulent bungalow interiors and lavish cruise cabins, amplifies the film’s theme of wealth and deception.
A standout sequence features a dance number in a glass-domed atrium, where the interplay of light and reflections creates a dizzying, almost surreal visual effect, perfectly encapsulating the film’s blend of glamour and absurdity.
The Role of CGI and Visual Effects
The film’s ambition extends to its use of visual effects, a necessity given its promise of “five times the entertainment.” Producer Sajid Nadiadwala delayed the release from Diwali 2024 to June 2025 to ensure top-notch VFX, a decision that sparked mixed reactions.
While some sequences, like high-octane chase scenes across the ship’s decks, benefit from seamless CGI, others—such as a bizarre moment involving propellers inside the ship’s hull—have been criticized for looking dated, with some reviewers comparing the CGI to “19th-century cinema.”
The uneven quality of the visual effects underscores a tension in the film’s production: a desire to push technical boundaries while grappling with the constraints of a sprawling ensemble and a tight shooting schedule.
Costumes and Glamour
Costumes in Housefull 5 are a spectacle unto themselves, designed to dazzle and distract.
The female leads—Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, Chitrangada Singh, and Soundarya Sharma—sport glittering gowns and revealing outfits that lean heavily into the franchise’s glamorous aesthetic. Critics have noted the film’s reliance on “male-gazey” visuals, with costumes often prioritizing allure over narrative relevance.
Meanwhile, the male cast, particularly Akshay Kumar in his signature white vest and cargo pants, exudes a casual swagger that contrasts with the opulence around them. The costumes serve a dual purpose: they reinforce the film’s escapist fantasy while subtly critiquing the superficiality of the characters’ wealth-driven motives.
The Premise: A Billionaire’s Will and a Murderous Twist
At its core, Housefull 5 is a murder mystery comedy set against the backdrop of a billionaire’s untimely death. Ranjeet, celebrating his 100th birthday, announces that his £69 billion fortune will go to his heir, “Jolly.”
The catch? Three men—Jalaluddin (Riteish Deshmukh), Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan), and Julius (Akshay Kumar)—claim to be the rightful Jolly, each accompanied by a partner (Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, and Sonam Bajwa).
When Ranjeet is found dead, a string of murders follows, implicating nearly every character on board. Interpol officer Dagdu (Nana Patekar) steps in to unravel the mystery, leading to a whirlwind of comedic confusion and suspense.
The narrative thrives on the Housefull franchise’s signature formula: mistaken identities, double entendres, and a relentless barrage of gags.
However, the addition of a murder mystery elevates the stakes, blending the absurdity of slapstick with the tension of a whodunit. Director Tarun Mansukhani, known for Dostana, walks a tightrope between these genres, aiming to preserve the franchise’s unapologetic humor while introducing a suspenseful thread.
The result is a film that’s both familiar and innovative, though not without its flaws.
The Dual-Climax Experiment
The film’s most audacious feature is its dual-climax strategy, a first in Indian cinema. Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B share identical content for approximately 140 minutes, diverging only in the final 20 minutes to reveal different killers.
In 5A, Dev (Fardeen Khan), Ranjeet’s son from his second marriage, and Jolly 2 (Abhishek Bachchan) are unmasked as the culprits. In 5B, Maya (Chitrangada Singh), a board member, teams up with Jolly 2 as the mastermind.
This gimmick, conceived by Nadiadwala 30 years ago, aims to boost repeat viewership and create an interactive experience, encouraging audiences to watch both versions.
The dual endings have sparked heated debate. Supporters, like exhibitor Manoj Desai, praise the strategy for its novelty, noting that theaters like Gaiety and Galaxy allocated equal shows to both versions to maximize viewership.
However, critics argue that the endings feel like a marketing ploy, with 5A often cited as the more coherent resolution due to Dev’s stronger motive.
5B’s twist, involving Maya, has been criticized for feeling forced and lacking narrative grounding. The experiment’s success is evident in the film’s box office performance—crossing ₹100 crore in India within four days—but its artistic merit remains contentious, with some viewers feeling cheated by the need to watch the film twice for a complete experience.
Pacing and Structure
At 165 minutes, Housefull 5 tests audience patience with its sprawling runtime. The first half establishes the conflict with a barrage of introductions, gags, and musical numbers, while the second half struggles to maintain momentum as the murder mystery takes center stage.
Critics have noted that the screenplay, co-written by Nadiadwala and Mansukhani, feels hastily assembled, with pointless sequences and an overreliance on outdated humor.
The pacing falters in the second half, with scenes that “come and go without context,” making the film feel like a “chaotic improvisation exercise gone wrong.” Yet, for fans of the franchise, the relentless energy and star power keep the film百
Character Dynamics and Performances
The ensemble cast of Housefull 5 is a hallmark of the franchise, a veritable who’s-who of Bollywood royalty. Akshay Kumar, as Julius, is the film’s linchpin, delivering a performance that critics universally praise for its comic timing and charisma.
His entry scene, described as “Ace Ventura-style,” sets the tone for his larger-than-life presence, with punchy one-liners and physical comedy that hark back to his early comedic roles.
Riteish Deshmukh, as Jalaluddin, brings a zany energy, his chemistry with Kumar providing some of the film’s funniest moments. Abhishek Bachchan’s Jalbhushan, however, struggles to land laughs, with critics noting that his deadpan humor feels out of place amid the frenetic slapstick.
The supporting cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, and Fardeen Khan, adds star power but is often underutilized. Nana Patekar’s extended cameo as Dagdu steals the show, his gravitas and comedic timing providing a much-needed anchor to the chaos. The female leads, unfortunately, are relegated to glamorous side roles, with critics lamenting their lack of agency beyond “giggling, shrieking, and shaking a leg in revealing outfits.” This has fueled accusations of sexism, with reviewers arguing that the film normalizes objectification and relies on “crass, cleavage-focused humor.”
Thematic Undertones: Wealth, Deception, and Social Commentary
Beneath its surface-level absurdity, Housefull 5 flirts with themes of greed, deception, and the corrupting influence of wealth. The three Jollys, each claiming the billionaire’s fortune, embody the chaos of ambition, while the cruise ship setting serves as a microcosm of societal hierarchies—board members, imposters, and Interpol officers all vying for power. Some reviewers have praised the film for its “metaphorical criticism of a money-driven society,” though others argue that these themes are overshadowed by the relentless barrage of crude humor and innuendos.
The film’s humor, rooted in the Housefull tradition, leans heavily on double entendres, physical gags, and references to earlier franchise entries. Moments like a “popat dying in a vacuum cleaner” or a “Jalaluddin to Julabuddin” joke exemplify the franchise’s unapologetic crassness, which has polarized audiences. While some X users hailed the film as a “volcano of entertainment” with “laugh-out-loud moments,” others decried its “cheap, vulgar, and cringe-worthy” comedy, urging families to skip it. This divide reflects a broader cultural tension: the enduring appeal of mindless entertainment versus a growing demand for more nuanced, inclusive storytelling.
A Sonic Explosion of Bollywood Flair
The film’s music, a staple of Bollywood, is both a strength and a point of contention. Songs like “Laal Pari” are integrated into the narrative, with lavish dance sequences that showcase the cruise’s opulence.
Yo Yo Honey Singh’s track faced a copyright dispute with Mofusion Studios, briefly disrupting the promotional campaign, but its reinstatement added to the film’s buzz.
The soundtrack’s high-energy beats and catchy hooks align with the film’s escapist tone, though critics note that the songs often interrupt the narrative flow, contributing to the bloated runtime.
Reception and Cultural Impact
Box Office Triumph and Critical Divide
Housefull 5 has proven a commercial juggernaut, grossing ₹160.5 crore worldwide, including ₹100.5 crore in India within four days, making it Akshay Kumar’s biggest hit since Good Newwz (2019).
Its release on 5,000 screens—the widest for a Bollywood comedy—underscored its mass appeal, despite competition from Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life. The dual-climax strategy boosted viewership, with Housefull 5A emerging as the preferred version due to its more logical resolution.
Critically, the film has received mixed-to-negative reviews. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave it 3.5/5, praising its “paisa-vasool killer comedy” and Akshay Kumar’s charisma, while The Times of India’s Renuka Vyavahare rated it 2.5/5, lamenting the “utter lack of humor” and wasted talent.
On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 15% approval rating, with critics slamming its “regressive, stale” humor and “filmmaking apathy.” X posts reflect this divide, with some calling it a “cinematic masterpiece” and others a “headache-inducing waste of time.”
Controversies and Criticisms
The film has faced significant backlash for its alleged sexism and objectification of women, with reviewers criticizing its reliance on “cleavage gags” and “tharki 18+ adult comedy.”
Director Tarun Mansukhani defended the film, arguing it was “led by women” and dismissing sexist accusations as biased, but the controversy has sparked broader conversations about Bollywood’s comedic tropes in 2025.
The inclusion of Nana Patekar and Sanjay Dutt, despite their controversial pasts, also raised eyebrows, adding a layer of complexity to the film’s reception.
The Housefull Legacy and Bollywood’s Comedy Landscape
Housefull 5 marks a milestone as the first Bollywood franchise to reach a fifth installment, building on the success of its predecessors since 2010. Unlike earlier entries, which relied purely on slapstick, this installment’s murder mystery and dual endings signal an attempt to evolve, albeit imperfectly.
The franchise’s enduring popularity—evidenced by its ₹300 crore global haul—reflects Bollywood’s appetite for escapist entertainment, even as critics call for sharper narratives and less reliance on outdated tropes.
The film’s success suggests that comedies remain in demand, as Mansukhani noted in interviews, predicting a resurgence of family entertainers.
However, its mixed reception highlights a challenge for Bollywood: balancing mass appeal with evolving audience expectations for inclusivity and originality. Housefull 5’s dual-climax gamble may pave the way for future cinematic experiments, but its reliance on “cringe-worthy” humor risks alienating viewers seeking more sophisticated comedy.
A Flamboyant, Flawed Spectacle
Housefull 5 is a cinematic paradox—a commercially triumphant, visually dazzling carnival of chaos that stumbles under the weight of its own excesses.
Its dual-climax strategy is a bold experiment, offering audiences a choice but sparking debate over its narrative coherence. The film’s strengths lie in its star power, lavish production design, and moments of genuine hilarity, driven by Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh.
Yet, its weaknesses—bloated runtime, uneven humor, and problematic tropes—underscore the challenges of modernizing a franchise rooted in 2000s sensibilities.
For fans, Housefull 5 is a “volcano of entertainment,” a ticket to a world where logic takes a backseat to laughter. For critics, it’s a “headache-inducing” reminder of Bollywood’s need to evolve.
Whether you choose 5A or 5B, the film delivers a wild, illogical ride that’s as polarizing as it is profitable. As Bollywood navigates its comedic future, Housefull 5 stands as a glittering, flawed testament to the enduring allure of chaos and the power of star-driven spectacle.
peoples review(taken from google)
