Horror-comedy 'Thamma' starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna proved to be one of the biggest cinema surprises of 2025 by blending folklore, fantasy, and emotion in equal percentages. Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced under the banner of Maddock Films by Amar Kaushik and Dinesh Vijan, the movie released on the screens worldwide on October 21, 2025, on the day of Diwali festival. Following its great run on the big screens, Thamma will be available on Amazon Prime Video from December 2, 2025 (rental) and December 16, 2025 (free with a Prime membership). Deep at its heart, Thamma is in the fantasy world of the universe of vampires, where fear and love become indistinguishable.
The story has Alok Goyal (Ayushmann Khurrana), a timid Delhi journalist who is renowned for pretending to be more courageous than he is. His journey into the dense forest turns dark after being attacked by a vile bear, who is subsequently rescued by Tadaka (Rashmika Mandanna), a female member of a mysterious vampire-like clan named the Betals. The Betals have not had human blood for decades, but their ages-old matriarch Yakshasan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) was jailed for breaking the ages-old rule of drinking human blood when the Partition of 1947 took place. Alok and Tadaka are once more in the city, and here their friendship grows and forms into an illegal romance.
However, Tadaka's inability to cope with more developed human society, along with her haunting past, raises questions and disorder. Tadaka's ultimate discoverer of her true nature is Alok's father, played by Paresh Rawal, who is caught between love and disbelief. In a surprise turn of events, Alok becomes a Betal himself when he dies in an accident and is resurrected using Tadaka's blood. This provides an ancient curse with enough energy to wake up Yakshasan and retrigger the war between humans and supernatural creatures. The second half of the movie widens the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) by ingeniously connecting events to those of 'Bhediya' and 'Stree'.
Varun Dhawan's Bhaskar (the Bhediya) makes a shocking cameo appearance, connecting 'Thamma''s story to the overall supernatural universe. The climax presents high-octane mythology, with Alok becoming the new "Thamma", the head of Betals, after defeating Yakshasan in an action-packed confrontation featuring age-old rituals, blood oaths, and divine intervention. Critically, ‘Thamma’ has garnered praise for its world-building, special effects, and strong performances. Ayushmann Khurrana is lauded for his blend of humor and vulnerability, while Rashmika Mandanna brings grace and mystery to Tadaka’s role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s menacing turn as Yakshasan steals the show, adding grandeur to the mythic antagonist. The film’s music by Sachin–Jigar, particularly the haunting track ‘Raat Ke Rang Mein’, complements the eerie yet vibrant tone.
At the box office, Thamma collected a good ₹25 crore on Day 1, reached almost ₹50 crore in three days, and crossed ₹100 crore globally in its first week. Thamma was Ayushmann Khurrana's largest opener and one of Maddock Films' most successful films since 'Stree 2'.
In fact, Thamma is not just a horror-comedy, it's a mythological fable reimagined in today's storytelling. Combining love, sacrifice, and mythical supernaturalism, it gets the MHCU formation correct and sets up a larger cinematic universe grounded in Indian folklore and fantasy. With its OTT release, audiences have the promise of a spine-chilling experience into a realm where light, shadow, and love struggle for domination in the ceaseless darkness.