Published: October 21, 2025, 10:30 PM IST
Mumbai: The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe has struck gold once again. The much-awaited Diwali release, ‘Thamma (Hindi)’, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, has roared to a phenomenal start at the box office, with early trade reports suggesting a Day 1 collection of approximately βΉ24.87 Crore (gross).
The film, which hit over 4000 screens nationwide on October 21st, leveraged the festive holiday to secure one of the biggest opening days for a Bollywood horror-comedy film this year.
Word-of-Mouth Fuels Massive Evening Surge
While advance bookings for the Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna starrer were initially moderate, positive word-of-mouth following the first-day-first-show screenings appears to have fueled a massive surge in footfall, especially in the evening and late-night shows across major metros.
Trade analyst, Taran Adarsh, called ‘Thamma’ a βwell-packaged entertainerβ and praised the blend of romance, supernatural themes, and humor. Netizens quickly echoed the sentiment on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling the film a “perfect Diwali watch” and a “total crowd-pleaser.”
The Maddock Universe Connection
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, ‘Thamma’ is the latest installment in the successful Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), which includes hits like Stree and Bhediya.
The movie introduces a new lore centered around the ‘Betaal’ (vampire-like creatures) and a deadly romance, and it prominently features Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the villain Yakshasan. Crucially, the film also features a thunderous surprise cameo by Varun Dhawan as Bhediya, which delighted franchise fans and served as a major highlight in early reviews.
The strong opening for ‘Thamma’ solidifies Ayushmann Khurrana’s box office comeback and sets the stage for a spectacular first weekend, as the film faces minimal competition in the Hindi belt. The film’s collections are expected to see a significant jump over the next few days.