Housefull 5 ending explained: Who is the real killer in Akshay Kumar's comedy film, and what do the two climaxes mean?

The latest instalment in the Bollywood comedy series Housefull 5 culminates in a confused murder case unfolding on a cruise ship, incorporating aspects of both slapstick comedy and whodunits. A masked assassin chases and stabs the ship's doctor to death in the opening scene of the film, setting the stage for a frantic inquiry involving several heirs, imposters, and a fortune on the line.

Ranjeet’s testament sparks a confusing heir dispute

Ranjeet, the owner of the ship, has designated his son Jolly as his rightful heir in his testament as he lies dying. However, Julius (Akshay Kumar), Jalabuddin (Riteish Deshmukh), and Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan) all show up to claim the bequest, and they all have matching buttock scars to prove it. All three imposters met at a party and devised their scheme based on this peculiar coincidence, which leads to much bewilderment and laughter.

Fardeen Khan plays Ranjeet's real son Dev; Shreyas Talpade plays his adopted son Shiraz; Soundarya Sharma plays lawyer Lucy; and everyone else on board is believed to be hiding something. Unusual actions by crew members and suspicious document destruction further add to the mystery.

Suspects waking up to a crime scene

All three "Jollies" and their spouses wake up from a wild night of partying with a haze of fragmented memories reminiscent of The Hangover. They unearth a severed finger, the lifeless body of the doctor, and other indicators of foul play. As soon as they are identified as prime suspects in the murder case, they are imprisoned on the ship.

Laugh out loud with Housefull 2, Rascals, Deewane Huye Paagal, and Khatta Meetha—all streaming now on OTTplay Premium!

Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff's Bhiddu and Baba, two detectives from London, join the investigation, but they're more comedy relief than real cops. Subsequently, Nana Patekar introduces the more forceful and commanding presence of Interpol agent Dhagdu. He promises to serve justice by revealing a comprehensive dossier detailing their offences.

Murderer revealed and real heir's arrival

The showdown exposes Jalbhushan, who collaborated with Dev to eliminate competitors and secure the bequest, as the murderer. Bobby Deol, portraying real Jolly, unexpectedly appears, flaunts his wealth, and proposes to share the inheritance with his supporters. At the film's conclusion, it's implied that everyone gets along and splits the money evenly.

It should be noted that Housefull 5 has two different climaxes. Dev and Jalbhushan are co-conspirators in the main version (5A). Maya (Chitrangada Singh) is the villain in the other (5B) version, along with Jalbhushan, whereas Dev is innocent.

Controversy over female representation

The film has received backlash for the way it depicts female characters, despite its intentions to provide both mystery and comedy. Scenes concentrate primarily on the looks of actors like Jacqueline Fernandez and Soundarya Sharma rather than their roles, and they are sexualised and used as objects on multiple occasions.

Among the many famous faces featured in Housefull 5 are Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Akshay Kumar. The film, which has received mixed reviews for its plot and character development, ties off the most recent chapter in the franchise with a blend of traditional comedic aspects and a murder mystery twist.