Thamma Box Office: Maddock Films’ first romantic horror-comedy gears up to outshine Bhediya and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

Thamma Box Office: Maddock Films’ first romantic horror-comedy gears up to outshine Bhediya and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

Maddock Films, the studio that built an entire cinematic universe around horror and humor, is now taking a new leap with Thamma, its first romantic film rooted in the supernatural. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the film is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and showrun by Amar Kaushik. It is set to hit theatres on October 21, 2025, just in time for Diwali.

Developed over four to five years, Thamma reportedly began as a one-line concept during the pandemic. The story follows Ayushmann Khurrana as a Betal—a vampire-like spirit from Indian folklore—caught between humor, action, and an unexpected romance. The film’s tone blends Indian mythology with Maddock’s trademark light-heartedness, showing how an ordinary man navigates love and supernatural powers.

Producer Dinesh Vijan revealed that Thamma expands the studio’s acclaimed horror-comedy universe that began with Stree in 2018. The success of Stree, followed by Bhediya and Munjya, inspired Maddock to explore more Indian-rooted stories that carry mass appeal. “Someone once told me, ‘build your own box.’ It stayed with me. When Stree fired, I started looking at it like that. The universe formed itself properly by Stree, and today we’ve got worlds, planets, rules, and surprises that all connect,” Vijan told Variety.

He emphasized that Thamma is built on genuinely Indian source material. “We often look at Western concepts, but the origin of many of these ideas is ours—way before anything the West has shown,” he said.

For Ayushmann Khurrana, known for socially conscious hits like Andhadhun and Article 15, Thamma marks his first foray into fantasy cinema. He described Maddock’s horror-comedy universe as “the most sought-after universe in Hindi cinema.” According to Khurrana, the film leans “less on horror and more on comedy, romance, and action.”

Also Read: Mrunal Thakur and Mouni Roy shine bright together at Ramesh Taurani’s Diwali bash

Rashmika Mandanna added that Thamma’s characters are “deeply rooted in Indian culture yet carry a modern charm.” Known for Pushpa: The Rise, Animal, and Dear Comrade, Rashmika said she was drawn to the script’s mix of cultural depth and contemporary flair. “These are such rooted characters in our culture, but they have such swag,” she said.

Box office projections for Thamma are already strong. Trade reports suggest the film could open above Rs 13 crore in India—potentially overtaking Bhediya and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in first-day collections. Given the franchise’s track record and Diwali release window, industry analysts believe Thamma could become Maddock’s next blockbuster success.