Ayushmann & Rashmika’s 'Thamma'

singluar Sunday, October 19, 2025

When a film in India crosses the ₹100 crore mark in budget, it becomes a statement. When that film belongs to a genre traditionally treated on modest budgets—horror‑comedy—the ambition takes on extra meaning. That’s exactly what Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, is doing: it’s positioning itself as the most expensive Indian horror‑comedy ever, and in doing so, signalling a shift in how this genre is being conceived and packaged for the Indian audience.

Here’s a deep dive into what makes Thamma remarkable—from its record‑breaking budget to its storied cast, universe play, and what it might mean for Indian genre cinema moving forward.

1. A Budget That Breaks the Ceiling

One of the major headlines around the film is its budget. According to trade reports, Thamma has been made with a production budget around ₹125 crore.

On top of that, print and publicity (P&A) is estimated at another ₹20 crore, bringing the total landing cost to approximately ₹145 crore.

To put this in perspective: the previous benchmark in this genre, Stree 2 (in the same film‑universe) had a budget of around ₹125 crore inclusive of P&A. Thamma ups the ante by nearly ₹20 crore.

Why is the budget so high? Several flags point to scale:

Use of international VFX studios, brought in to deliver high‑end visual effects which command premium rates.
Grand sets, multiple locations (shooting in Delhi, Mumbai, Ooty) and a narrative that spans multiple time‑periods (hinted as modern India and ancient Vijayanagara empire).
A star‑heavy cast and high actor fees (see below).

The takeaway: The makers are not treating this as a “smaller horror‑comedy” with select big‑names—they are treating it as a major event film.

2. The Cast, the Universe & the Pitch

Casting Power

At the forefront: Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. Ayushmann’s brand has become synonymous with offbeat, socially conscious yet commercially viable cinema; Rashmika brings pan‑India appeal. On top of them are veterans like Nawazuddin Siddiqui (reportedly the antagonist) and Paresh Rawal.

Details on actor fees reveal Ayushmann is reportedly paid around ₹8‑10 crore, Rashmika around ₹5‑7 crore, Nawazuddin ₹3‑4 crore and Paresh Rawal ₹2 crore.

These numbers are indicative of a production where no expense is spared for talent.

A Universe Expands

Thamma is not a standalone; it’s the latest film in what is called the Maddock Films Horror‑Comedy Universe (MHCU).

Previous titles like Stree, Bhediya, Munjya laid the groundwork. Thamma is being touted as a more ambitious flagship entry in that shared world.

Director Aditya Sarpotdar (of Munjya fame) helms the film. There are also spinoff or cameo possibilities teased, aligning with the cinematic‑universe approach that Western franchises adopt.

Story Premise

While full plot details are under wraps, what is known: Thamma revolves around Indian vampire mythology, and a narrative that toggles between modern and ancient timelines (notably the Vijayanagara empire).

The mythology angle gives it a cultural texture, rather than importing standard Western vampire tropes.

3. What the High Budget Enables

So with such a budget bump, what can the audience expect?

Top‑tier VFX and creature design: Horror‑comedy often leans on the comedic aspect, but high budget allows major investment into the horror/creature side — making the scares visually impressive.
Scale of production & exotic sets/locations: The narrative spans time and geography, which demands more resources.
Marketing and distribution reach: A film of this scale needs wide prints, extensive promotion, possible premium formats (IMAX/4DX), and better platform arrangements.
Star power & cameo value: Big names, possibly even surprise appearances, add to the “event” feel.
Genre elevation: By investing heavily, the makers are signalling that horror‑comedy isn’t just a lower‑tier or niche category — it can be mainstream blockbuster material.

In essence: They are attempting to raise the ceiling for what a horror‑comedy in India can cost and aspire to be.

4. The Broader Context: Why It Matters

Why is this moment significant for Indian cinema and this genre specifically?

Genre fatigue and revival: Horror‑comedy has become a familiar formula in Bollywood: laugh‑scares, supernatural elements, quirky humour. With Thamma, the makers are doubling down by adding scale, mythic roots and big‑budget aspirations. This attempt may rejuvenate the genre.
Risk appetite increasing: Producers willing to put ₹125‑150 crore on a horror‑comedy indicates rising confidence in non‑traditional genres. The conventional wisdom said “big budgets → hero masala/action”. Thamma challenges that.
Shared universe model continues: Indian cinema is slowly embracing the “cinematic universe” model (popularised by Hollywood). By making Thamma part of MHCU and investing heavily, they’re signalling this model can go beyond single films and micro‑budgets.
Pan‑India star & appeal: Rashmika, for example, is a pan‑Indian star (Telugu, Kannada, Hindi). Pairing her with Ayushmann (strong Hindi belt) and backing with a big budget shows they’re aiming for national scale, not just regional or metro multiplexes.
Festival release timing: Releasing during Diwali is a high‑stakes strategy—it means aiming for family audiences, big box office windows, and wide distribution.

5. Challenges & Expectations

With high ambition comes higher risk. Here are the things at play:

Return on investment pressure: With a ₹145 crore outlay (production + P&A), the film needs strong box‑office returns and ancillary revenues (OTT, satellite, overseas) to break even and turn profit.
Genre expectations vs. mainstream audience: Horror‑comedy has its fans, but scaling it to blockbuster levels means walking a tightrope — maintaining the genre’s quirks while appealing to mass audiences.
Comparisons with previous entries: Earlier MHCU films set certain tone/expectations. The audience may ask: will Thamma deliver novelty, or just rehash formula with bigger visuals?

As one Reddit comment noted:
“Yea that movie was so heartbreaking 😭 … trailer… looks like a TV production.”
Critical reception matters: At this budget, critics and word‑of‑mouth will matter a lot for sustainability beyond opening weekend.

6. Why Audiences Should Care

If you’re wondering whether to watch Thamma (or care about the news of its budget), here’s why you might want to tune in:

Ambitious storytelling: The vampire mythology + dual timeline setting suggests more complex narrative than typical slapstick horror‑comedy.
Visual spectacle: With big budget and international VFX houses, expect high‑quality creature work, atmospheric sets—something you might not normally associate with Indian horror‑comedy.
Star pairing & ensemble: Ayushmann’s trademark mix of humour + vulnerability, Rashmika’s pan‑Indian appeal, and veteran actors like Nawazuddin make for a potent mix.
Genre evolution: If this film succeeds, it could signal more big‑budget genre cinema in India — giving audiences more variety.

7. Final Thoughts

With “Thamma”, the makers of the MHCU are making a bold declaration: horror‑comedy in India can be treated with blockbuster budgets, wide ambition and event‑level scale. Whether the film fully delivers on those ambitions remains to be seen (the release is scheduled for 21 October 2025, on the Diwali weekend).

But regardless of how it performs, the fact that such a budget is being allocated sends an important message: genre films don’t have to be small, niche or cheap. They can aim for the same heights as mainstream masala blockbusters.

For you as a viewer: this potentially means more high‑end horror, more creative genre mash‑ups, and a broader palette of cinema in India going forward.