{ "id": "epwzfxxmk5", "slug": "bhediya", "title": "Bhediya (भेड़िया)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s", "label": "Hindi films of the 2020s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022", "label": "Hindi films of 2022", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022", "label": "India · 2021 and later: Hindi films of 2022", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s", "label": "Hindi films of the 2020s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022", "label": "Hindi films of 2022", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Bhediya (भेड़िया) is a 2022 Hindi-language horror comedy directed by Amar Kaushik, in which Varun Dhawan's character turns into a werewolf after a wolf bite.", "snippet": "Bhediya (भेड़िया) is a 2022 Hindi-language horror comedy directed by Amar Kaushik, in which Varun Dhawan's character turns into a werewolf after a wolf bite.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2020s.hindi-films-of-2022", "markdown": "# Bhediya (भेड़िया)\n\n**Bhediya** (भेड़िया) is a 2022 Hindi-language horror comedy directed by [Amar Kaushik](https://www.edgepedia.org/amar-kaushik), in which a man named Bhaskar, bitten by a mythical wolf in the forests of [Arunachal Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/arunachal-pradesh), begins to transform into a werewolf himself.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) • [2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=6209) Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Jyoti Deshpande for Maddock Films and Jio Studios, it is a film in the producer's shared universe of horror comedies that began with *Stree* (2018).[3](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movie/bhediya-16765) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bhediya-trailer-varun-dhawan-kriti-sanon-horror-comedy-8217610/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 25 November 2022, in cinemas in 2D and 3D, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/videos/movie-promos/bhediya-official-trailer-varun-dhawan-kriti-sanon/) |\n| Director and writer | Amar Kaushik (director), Niren Bhatt (screenwriter)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) |\n| Lead cast | Varun Dhawan as Bhaskar, Kriti Sanon as Dr. Anika Mittal, with Abhishek Banerjee, Deepak Dobriyal, and Paalin Kabak[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14099334/fullcredits/) |\n| Runtime | 156 minutes[2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=6209) |\n| India net box office | ₹666.5 million (₹66.65 crore) lifetime total per Bollywood Hungama; Sacnilk reports ₹689.9 million (₹68.99 crore)[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bhediya/box-office/page/1/) • [8](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Bhediya_2022?bxid=5bd670be2ddf9c619438dc56&cndid=26156668&esrc=WIRED_CRMSeries&mbid=CRMWIR092120) |\n| Critical scores | 62% Tomatometer from 13 critics; 82% Popcornmeter from over 100 audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) |\n| Franchise status | Entry in the Maddock horror-comedy universe; a sequel, *Bhediya 2*, is among the announced slate[3](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movie/bhediya-16765) • [9](https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TIP-February-14-E-Edition.pdf) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story and setting\n\nThe film is set in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. Bhaskar, an ordinary man, is bitten by a mythical wolf and begins to transform into the creature; as he and his friends search for answers, the story mixes horror, comedy, and twists.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) • [2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=6209) Press coverage described the film as based on ancient Arunachali folklore.[10](https://southasiandaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/29-November-2022_.pdf) The supporting cast includes Abhishek Banerjee as Janardan \"Jana\", [Deepak Dobriyal](https://www.edgepedia.org/deepak-dobriyal) as Panda, and Paalin Kabak as Jomin, with [Saurabh Shukla](https://www.edgepedia.org/saurabh-shukla) and Baharul Islam in further roles.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14099334/fullcredits/)\n\n**Themes.** Critics noted that the film carries a pro-environment message and an anti-racism thread: the Variety review called it \"a terrifically entertaining romp through the jungles of Northeastern India that delivers pro-environment and anti-racism messages,\" and Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express observed that the script slips in commentary on how people from northeastern states are treated by visitors from the rest of India.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) ThePrint credited the film's social satire and its authentic representation of [Northeast India](https://www.edgepedia.org/northeast-india) as factors in its reception.[11](https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/bhediya-to-bhool-bhulaiyaa-2-horror-comedy-built-a-loyal-fanbase-in-2022/1290808/)\n\n## Production and visual effects\n\nThe creature effects were handled by the international studio MPC, whose VFX supervisor James Austin led a team that delivered over 640 shots in 20 months.[12](https://www.mpcvfx.com/en/filmography/bhediya/) MPC's primary contribution was the wolves and the werewolf transformation, showing the metamorphosis from human to full wolf form; the studio also built digital doubles for sequences in which actors interact with the wolves, along with fully 3D environments and set extensions.[12](https://www.mpcvfx.com/en/filmography/bhediya/) Director Amar Kaushik said he wanted the first transformation sequence to play as a single continuous shot so that audiences, including international viewers, would be surprised by it.[13](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bhediya-director-amar-kaushik-varun-dhawan-werewolf-transformation-om-raut-adipurush-bad-vfx-scene-stealer-8554563/lite/) MPC's work on the film won Best VFX Feature and Best VFX Shot awards at the VAM Summit and Awards 2023 in Mumbai.[14](https://www.mpcvfx.com/en/news/mpc-wins-two-vam-awards/)\n\nThe music was composed by [Sachin–Jigar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sachin-jigar) with lyrics by [Amitabh Bhattacharya](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bhattacharya), and the cinematography was by [Jishnu Bhattacharjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/jishnu-bhattacharjee).[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/videos/movie-promos/bhediya-official-trailer-varun-dhawan-kriti-sanon/) The film was shot in Arunachal Pradesh.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bhediya-trailer-varun-dhawan-kriti-sanon-horror-comedy-8217610/)\n\n## Box office\n\nBhediya opened on 25 November 2022 and earned ₹74.8 million (₹7.48 crore) net on its first day in India, rising to ₹95.7 million (₹9.57 crore) on Saturday and ₹115 million (₹11.50 crore) on Sunday.[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bhediya/box-office/page/1/) Bollywood Hungama's day-wise tracking puts the lifetime India net total at ₹666.5 million (₹66.65 crore), while Sacnilk reports ₹689.9 million (₹68.99 crore) net, ₹814.1 million (₹81.41 crore) India gross, and ₹949.1 million (₹94.91 crore) worldwide.[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bhediya/box-office/page/1/) • [8](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Bhediya_2022?bxid=5bd670be2ddf9c619438dc56&cndid=26156668&esrc=WIRED_CRMSeries&mbid=CRMWIR092120) Box Office India lists a lower worldwide gross of ₹883.3 million (₹88.33 crore), including $1,600,000 from overseas.[2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=6209) The Numbers records $294,653 from reported international territories, led by Australia ($154,863) and New Zealand ($85,531).[15](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bhediya-%282022-India%29)\n\nThe release competed directly with [Ajay Devgn](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajay-devgn)'s *Drishyam 2*, which had opened a week earlier, and trade commentary attributed the film's modest run partly to that clash.[16](https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/bhediya-box-office-revisit-varun-dhawan-starrer-is-the-only-underperformer-of-maddock-supernatural-universe-securing-an-average-verdict/) Koimoi's retrospective classified the film as the only underperformer of the Maddock Supernatural Universe, with an average verdict.[16](https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/bhediya-box-office-revisit-varun-dhawan-starrer-is-the-only-underperformer-of-maddock-supernatural-universe-securing-an-average-verdict/)\n\n## Reception\n\nOn Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 62% Tomatometer from 13 critics and an 82% Popcornmeter audience score.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) Indian critics were broadly positive: Gupta of The Indian Express gave 3 of 5 stars and wrote that the horror is nominal while the comedy works; Devesh Sharma of Filmfare gave 3.5 of 5 and praised the creature effects and computer-generated imagery; Rahul Desai of Film Companion called it \"silly, stylish, surprisingly poignant.\"[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) A more negative review from Carla Hay in Culture Mix called it a horror comedy that is neither scary nor funny and criticized the visual effects as overrated.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya) Reviewers also placed the film in the werewolf-movie lineage of *An American Werewolf in London* and earlier Indian creature films such as *Junoon* (1992).[17](https://www.upnworld.com/upn/movie_details/204) • [18](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bhediya-review-varun-dhawans-film-is-helped-along-by-lively-performances-3-5-stars-3552057)\n\n## Place in the Maddock universe\n\nBhediya belongs to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, the shared universe of Hindi-language supernatural comedy horror films produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films that began with *Stree* (2018) and continued with *Roohi* (2021).[3](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movie/bhediya-16765) • [19](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/stree-bhediya-dinesh-vijan-horror-comedy-universe-where-to-watch) An end-credits scene unites the film's protagonists with characters from *Stree*, and characters from Bhediya reappear in *Stree 2* (2024).[19](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/stree-bhediya-dinesh-vijan-horror-comedy-universe-where-to-watch) In January 2025, Vijan announced eight new films in the universe with release dates, including *Bhediya 2* alongside *Thama*, *Shakti Shalini*, *Chamunda*, *Stree 3*, *Maha Munjya*, and the two-part *Mahayudh*.[9](https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TIP-February-14-E-Edition.pdf)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Bhediya, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bhediya)\n2. [Bhediya, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=6209)\n3. [Bhediya (2022), BollywoodMDB](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movie/bhediya-16765)\n4. [Bhediya trailer: Varun Dhawan has 'Rampuri jaise nakhun and Dracula jaise daant' in horror comedy, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bhediya-trailer-varun-dhawan-kriti-sanon-horror-comedy-8217610/)\n5. [Bhediya: Official Trailer, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/videos/movie-promos/bhediya-official-trailer-varun-dhawan-kriti-sanon/)\n6. [Bhediya (2022) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14099334/fullcredits/)\n7. [Bhediya Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bhediya/box-office/page/1/)\n8. [Bhediya (2022) Box Office, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Bhediya_2022?bxid=5bd670be2ddf9c619438dc56&cndid=26156668&esrc=WIRED_CRMSeries&mbid=CRMWIR092120)\n9. [The Indian Panorama, February 14, 2025 edition](https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TIP-February-14-E-Edition.pdf)\n10. [MidWeek Bollywood, South Asian Daily, November 29, 2022](https://southasiandaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/29-November-2022_.pdf)\n11. [Bhediya to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, 'horror-comedy' built a loyal fanbase in 2022, ThePrint](https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/bhediya-to-bhool-bhulaiyaa-2-horror-comedy-built-a-loyal-fanbase-in-2022/1290808/)\n12. [Bhediya, MPC Paris filmography](https://www.mpcvfx.com/en/filmography/bhediya/)\n13. [Bhediya director Amar Kaushik breaks down Varun Dhawan's werewolf transformation, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bhediya-director-amar-kaushik-varun-dhawan-werewolf-transformation-om-raut-adipurush-bad-vfx-scene-stealer-8554563/lite/)\n14. [MPC Wins Two VAM Awards, MPC Paris](https://www.mpcvfx.com/en/news/mpc-wins-two-vam-awards/)\n15. [Bhediya (2022), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bhediya-%282022-India%29)\n16. [Bhediya Box Office Revisit, Koimoi](https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/bhediya-box-office-revisit-varun-dhawan-starrer-is-the-only-underperformer-of-maddock-supernatural-universe-securing-an-average-verdict/)\n17. [BHEDIYA: Movie Review, UPN World](https://www.upnworld.com/upn/movie_details/204)\n18. [Bhediya Review: Varun Dhawan's Film Is Helped Along By Lively Performances, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bhediya-review-varun-dhawans-film-is-helped-along-by-lively-performances-3-5-stars-3552057)\n19. [Where To Watch Dinesh Vijan's Horror Comedy Universe In Order, JustWatch](https://guides.justwatch.com/in/stree-bhediya-dinesh-vijan-horror-comedy-universe-where-to-watch)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 2020s › Hindi films of 2022*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Bhediya (भेड़िया)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Bhediya (भेड़िया)](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Bhediya (भेड़िया)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/bhediya. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Bhediya is a 2022 Hindi-language horror comedy directed by Amar Kaushik, in which Varun Dhawan's character turns into a werewolf after a wolf bite." }