As festive celebrations take over the country, film enthusiasts are once again looking back at the horror-comedy genre releases from past seasons. Last year, exactly a day after Diwali on October 21, 2025, the horror-comedy venture Thama starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna arrived in theatres. Hailing from Maddock Films' popular horror-comedy universe, the project carried massive expectations from trade analysts and audiences alike, largely because earlier films in this franchise had enjoyed stellar responses. However, the film ultimately failed to meet those towering expectations at the box office.
A Star-Studded Cast and Unique Characters
One of the primary talking points of the project was the fresh pairing of Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna sharing the big screen for the very first time with a mix of romance and chills. Ayushmann essayed the role of a journalist named Alok Goyal, while Rashmika appeared in the mysterious role of Tadka. To add a darker edge to the narrative, acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was cast as Yakshasan, bringing a villainous dimension to the plot. Veteran actor Paresh Raual also played a crucial supporting role, rounding out a formidable ensemble cast.
Blending Indian Folklore with Horror
The core plot revolves around the journalist Alok Goyal, whose existence turns upside down after he crosses paths with a mysterious woman named Tadka. Following this fateful encounter, he finds himself exposed to a hidden realm of legendary creatures known as Betals. He slowly begins transforming into a supernatural entity himself, triggering a roller coaster ride filled with love, terror, struggle, and adventure. The makers attempted to fuse Indian folklore with horror, comedy, and romance, though general audiences did not warm up significantly to this unusual narrative experiment.
Staggering Budget and High Stakes
Thama ranked among the most expensive productions within Maddock Films' expanding cinematic universe. According to data from Box Office India, the film carried a production and marketing budget of approximately 140 crore rupees, though certain box office tracking portals estimated it closer to 125 crore rupees. Given the heavy financial commitment involved in its creation and promotional campaign, the creators anticipated massive returns. Capitalizing on the festive window immediately following Diwali, the feature managed to secure a solid opening day.
Strong Initial Box Office Numbers
At the ticket counters, Thama hauled approximately 24 crore rupees net on its opening day across domestic screens. Within its first three days, the collections climbed to roughly 55.60 करोड़ rupees. Maintaining momentum through its opening week, the domestic net collection crossed the 95 crore rupee milestone. It eventually sailed past the coveted 100 crore rupee mark, prompting early speculations that Ayushmann's venture might turn out to be a massive box-office blockbuster.
Determining Commercial Success
Addressing the ultimate question of whether Thama emerged as a hit or a miss, figures from Sacnilk indicate that the film finished its domestic run with a net collection of roughly 134.78 crore rupees, while its worldwide gross reached approximately 187.59 crore rupees. However, Box Office India categorized the film as an average performer. This implied that while it could not be labeled a complete flop, it fell short of becoming a major box-office hit or a blockbuster, rendering its returns ordinary against its 140 crore rupee budget.
Festive Reminiscence
Released right after Diwali 2025, Thama attempted to offer viewers a distinct storytelling template combining thrills and humor. The fresh lead pairing, Nawazuddin's menacing antagonist avatar, and the established horror-comedy universe served as its biggest highlights. Although the movie missed out on achieving runaway box office success, its theatrical journey remains a point of discussion whenever festive cinematic memories are revisited.
