Diwali 2025: Is Ayushmann Khurrana’s Thamma the Next Big Horror-Comedy Hit?
The celebratory season of Diwali is equated with big Bollywood releases, and this year is no different. As the box office scene warms up, everyone’s eyes are on the latest addition to the extremely successful Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU): Ayushmann Khurrana’s Thamma. Picked for an October 21, 2025, release, this horror romantic comedy is set to be the largest Hindi film to reach the cinemas this Deepawali. But can Thamma match the blockbuster brand established by movies such as Stree and Munjya?
The Horror-Comedy Reign
The horror-comedy genre has been a complete goldmine for Bollywood of late, marrying real frights with side-splitting laughter—a match made in heaven for family entertainment throughout the festive week. Maddock Films, spearheaded by producer Dinesh Vijan, has cornered this territory, and Thamma is their fifth, much-awaited entry in their collective cinematic universe.
Unlike previous shows, the creators have explained that Thamma is more firmly rooted in the romantic-comedy and mythological zone, with elements of the supernatural than pure folklore. This turn holds out the promise of something new, from rural ghosts to medieval, mythic vampires—a move that can be either a genre-bending stroke of genius or a gambler’s risk.
A Stellar Cast to Light Up Diwali
The movie features an incredibly talented ensemble cast, a key factor in any potential blockbuster. At the forefront is the multi-talented Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok Goyal, an accidental vampire and a historian. Khurrana, widely popular for his flawless comic timing and common man characters, is entering an action-comedy avatar for the very first time. His transformation from being a Delhi boy to an unwilling supernatural savior is going to be a big boon.
Sharing screen space with him is pan-India sensation Rashmika Mandanna as Tadaka, an enigmatic vampire and Alok’s forbidden love. The evident chemistry between this new pair, as seen in the trailer, is already creating a huge buzz, making Thamma a ‘bloody love story’ that will resonate with both youth and family audiences alike.
The villain’s role is essayed by the power player Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the ancient vampire king Yakshasan. Rounding off the superlative cast is veteran actor Paresh Rawal as Ayushmann’s father. With Aditya Sarpotdar (of Munjya fame) directing and the combined star pull of Khurrana, Mandanna, and Siddiqui, Thamma has all the right ingredients for a fantastic Diwali entertainer.
What Makes Thamma a Box Office Contender?
Thamma is not only a movie; it’s a huge, multi-lingual release (Telugu, Hindi, Tamil) releasing in the theaters when the market is thirsty for a grand event.
Festive Release Benefit: Opening on October 21, 2025, Diwali, the movie will be able to take advantage of the holiday week when people tend to arrive in maximum numbers. One of the few big-budget Bollywood releases this festive period, it has a comparatively free run at the box office.
Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) Loyalty: The movie follows closely on the heels of huge success for other MHCU movies such as Stree and Munjya, and was teased at the end of Stree 2’s post-credit scene. This shared universe tie-in ensures a huge, built-in fan base waiting with bated breath for the next installment.
Exclusive Plot & Mass Appeal: The storyline—a historian getting transformed into a vampire and falling in love with a vampire queen, all interwoven with myth and comedy—is a new idea for the Hindi audience. Ayushmann Khurrana has even termed the film “massier” than other recent films, which implies a wide, mass appeal beyond the multiplex audience alone.
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From the captivating supernatural setup to the stellar cast and the strength of the MHCU brand, Ayushmann Khurrana’s Thamma has all the makings of a box office success. With the country ready to celebrate the festival of light, Bollywood is poised to light up the screens with what is well and truly the next horror-comedy sensation of 2025. Set a reminder for October 21st—get ready, cinemas!
