Akshay Kumar, known for his dedication to his craft and unique promotional strategies, recently took an unconventional approach to gauge the audience's reaction to his latest film, "Housefull 5." The film, which hit theaters on June 6, 2025, features a star-studded cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, Sanjay Dutt, Johny Lever, Chunky Panday, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Chitrangada Singh, Ranjeet, and Nikitin Dheer.

Kumar donned a "killer mask" to disguise himself while visiting a theater in Bandra, Mumbai, to capture the raw, unfiltered reactions of moviegoers. He shared a video of his experience on Instagram, captioning it: "Bas yun hi I decided to wear the killer mask and interview people coming out of the Housefull 5 show at Bandra today. Pakda jaane wala thaa end mein but bhaag gaya us se pehle. Mast experience." This translates to: "Just like that, I decided to wear the killer mask and interview people coming out of the Housefull 5 show in Bandra today. I was about to get caught in the end, but escaped just in time. What an awesome experience!"

In the video, Kumar, masked as the film's villain, engaged with excited kids and die-hard fans exiting the theater. He asked for their reviews, with responses ranging from energetic and enthusiastic praise to simple affirmations like "Achi hai movie" (The movie is good) or "Sahi hai movie" (The movie is alright).

Adding to the excitement, on Saturday night, June 7, Kumar, along with Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, and director Tarun Mansukhani, surprised fans at a suburban Mumbai theater during a show. This impromptu visit allowed them to interact directly with the audience and witness their reactions firsthand.

"Housefull 5" has been released in two versions, "Housefull 5A" and "Housefull 5B".

The film has already stirred considerable buzz, with director Tarun Mansukhani addressing rumors about its storyline being inspired by "Squid Game," "Glass Onion," and "Death On The Nile." Mansukhani acknowledged these comparisons, stating that it's positive that people are reacting and connecting the film to other works, as it generates discussion and interest. He encouraged viewers to analyze the film, take screenshots, and build anticipation leading up to the release, emphasizing that the true experience lies in watching the film and discovering whether their assumptions were correct.

The trailer for "Housefull 5" has been met with positive feedback, with netizens praising its humor, nostalgic elements, and the ensemble cast's chemistry. Many have lauded Akshay Kumar's comedic timing. The film promises a blend of comedy, chaos, and a captivating murder mystery, sparking curiosity about the masked killer's identity.

Initial box office reports indicate a strong performance.