Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, was one of the most-awaited films of the year. The film received mixed reviews from critics and the audience, but it managed to take a bumper opening at the box office because of the Diwali festival.

According to Sacnilk, the film has collected approximately Rs. 24 crore, which is a very good number. Thamma has given Ayushmann his biggest opening till date. Meanwhile, Rashmika had bigger openings with films like Chhaava and Pushpa 2.

Now, it will be interesting to see how the film performs in the upcoming days. The holiday factor has worked in Thamma’s favour, but let’s see how much the movie will collect on regular working days, and during the upcoming weekend (Saturday, Sunday).

Thamma is a Maddock Horror Comedy Universe film, so the audience was excited to watch it as the makers had hinted that there are a few interesting cameos in the movie. However, many critics and audiences have stated that it is the weakest film in MHCU.

The Free Press Journal reviewer gave Thamma 2.5 stars and wrote, “With Stree and Stree 2 being blockbusters, one expected these films to pave the smooth entry for Thamma. Because of the film’s VFX and Diwali holidays, one can expect the film to do brisk business. But, eventually, the real test will start after the holidays.”

The next movie in Maddock Horror Comedy Universe is Shakti Shalini which stars Saiyaara fame Aneet Padda in the lead role. The announcement of the movie was attached with Thamma, and it has gone viral on social media.

The audience is quite excited for the upcoming movies like MHCU like Shakti Shalini, Bhediya 2, Stree 2, Chhoti Stree (animation), Munjhya 2, and others.

Director: Aditya Sarpotdar, Writer: Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, Arun Falara, Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal, Sathyaraj, Fasial Malik, Geeta Aggarwal, Rachit Singh, Duration: 149 Minutes, Rating: 4.

Thamma is big-screen fun at its purest — a daring mix of folklore, family, fantasy, and fanfare of a full-blown franchise. With this new movie in the Maddock horror-verse, director Aditya Sarpotdar is taking Indian genre cinema to a whole new level. It’s all sorts of strange, clever, and wildly creative — yet, very relatable. While Stree was scary and subversive and Bhediya went into the wilds, Thamma conquers the territory by merging horror with love and, thus, leaving a cinematic experience that is totally different.

The story revolves around the forest of myths where the past is still alive and the ancient guardians are awakening. Not Thamma by any means, but it still manages to conjure up a bizarre fantasy universe complete with its own laws, curses, and consequences. Compared to other supernatural thrillers, this one is basically an emotional comedy with a dose of humor and the human instinct to save those whom we love even if it costs our lives. It doesn’t become scary but rather keeps its faith. The movie is funny but not farcical. It is also emotional without being overly dramatic.

One of the main characters is journalist protagonist Khurrana from a small town. His incidental supernatural experience leads to a series of events that is not in his capacity to grasp the enormity of it. In the first half, he is simply lovable and relatable but later on he becomes quite intense. Mandanna delivers an emotional performance that is also very down-to-earth. She has the fire as well as the delicate side of her nature and does not go for the usual stereotypical trope of horror comedy being over-the-top.

The continuing part is just an explosive work of art — it features fight, change of characters, and a breathtaking fight between Alok and Bhediya (Varun Dhawan). Special effects are of great quality and the confrontation between these two forces is signaling their underlying relationship which will definitely influence this cinematic universe storyline in the future. Such a moment of grandeur is the kind of moment in which you wish to applaud in a jam-packed hall, and subsequently, you are left with more questions than answers. How are these two characters related? I promise; the answer will be beyond your imagination.

On the subject of universe-building, the movie is full of Easter eggs and a few character recalls, but one highlights: the comeback of Sar Kata, the frightening character from Stree, who ominously appears, signaling the massive danger that lies ahead for the Maddock horror-verse. To be honest, the connection between Stree 2 and Thamma is quite strong, and by the time you get to the end, it’s only evident that it’s something huge that is on its way. The seeds of a mega-crossover have been dropped.

The acting, in general, is great. Paresh Rawal offers a great comic relief performance as the sarcastic and sharp-witted father while Nawazuddin Siddiqui dominates the movie with his intense and dark presence. The upward movement of his character feels like the dawn of something bigger and maybe a major factor in the future war of good vs. evil in this ever-expanding universe.

Following that is the comeback of Sathyaraj as Elvis, the idiosyncratic paranormal expert who got the nickname Hand of God. However, this time, he is not only here for the laughs — his arrival subtly changes the bigger picture. In a significant moment, Elvis points to a vital connection between Alok’s freshly changed Betaal and Bhediya, the one who was last seen grappling with Sar Kata in Stree 2. It’s a clever, low-key link that signals the coming events and the Maddock universe fans will instantly get the excitement of the bigger plot unfolding.

Moreover, the talked-about Nora Fatehi cameo is not only a glam reel but also an addition to the lore. Her unveiling provides a wonderful emotional connection to Stree and is a massive high point for long-time fans of the universe. Being a kind of fan service, it rewards attention and gives a totally different perspective to everything that we thought we knew about this world. Is she the one who opens the door to its secrets or something else?

Before the release, the buzz was mostly about item numbers and flashy visuals. However, Thamma, turn, defies the expectation. In the typical Maddock manner, every song in this movie has its function-character revelation, story advancement, or myth deepening. There are no unnecessary diversions, no hollow spectacles, only the narrative-driven songs that keep the emotional part of the story going. It is a very important revamp of the Bollywood horror formula and the result is great.

Veteran actor Asrani passed away on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the age of 84. Many Bollywood celebrities and politicians took to social media to mourn his demise. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X (Twitter) to mourn the Sholay actor’s demise.

PM Modi tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Govardhan Asrani Ji. A gifted entertainer and a truly versatile artist, he entertained audiences across generations. He particularly added joy and laughter to countless lives through his unforgettable performances.”

“His contribution to Indian cinema will always be cherished. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he further wrote.

Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, also took to X (Twitter) to mourn the demise of Asrani. He tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the demise of the legendary actor Govardhan Asrani ji. His unmatched versatility and unique sense of humor brought joy and laughter to millions.”

“From the iconic jailer in Sholay to memorable roles in Chupke Chupke, Golmaal, Aap Ki Kasam, Abhimaan, Baton Baton Mein, Chhoti Si Baat, Dhamaal, and many more, his performances have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. My humble tributes to him and deepest condolences to his family and millions of fans. Om Shanti (sic),” he further wrote.

Asrani’s first movie was Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan which was released in 1967. Later, he starred in many famous films like Guddi, Bawarchi, Parichay, Namak Haraam, Chupke Chupke, Sholay, and many more.

His character of Jailer in Sholay is still remembered by one and all. Moviegoers will never forget the famous dialogue mouthed by him, “Aadhe idhar jao… aadhe idhar jao… aur baaki hamare saath aao.”