Diwali 2025 just got a blockbuster winner! Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s horror-comedy Thamma stormed the box office on October 21, collecting an impressive ₹25.11 crore on opening day. The fifth installment in Maddock Films’ beloved Horror-Comedy Universe has not only delivered the biggest opening of Ayushmann’s career but also cemented its position as the second-highest opener in the MHCU after the phenomenal Stree 2.
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Breaking Records: Thamma’s Historic Opening Day
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed that Thamma collected ₹25.11 crore on its opening day, marking a terrific start for the Diwali release. This performance places it as the third-highest opener for Maddock Films overall, trailing only Stree 2 and Chhaava.
| Achievement | Details | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Day Collection | ₹25.11 Cr (Net India) | 4th highest Bollywood opener of 2025 |
| Ayushmann’s Career Best | Surpasses Dream Girl 2 (₹10.69 Cr) | 134% higher than previous record |
| MHCU Ranking | Second-highest after Stree 2 | Beat Stree (2018), Munjya, Bhediya |
| Maddock Films Ranking | Third-highest opener | After Stree 2 and Chhaava |
| Occupancy Rate | Morning: 15.76%, Evening: 42.91% | Strong evening surge |
| Pan-India Appeal | Scored across all regions | East, West, North, South |
The Stree 2 Comparison: Fair or Unfair?
While Thamma has now become the third-highest opener for Maddock Films after Stree 2 and Chhaava, and the second-highest opener in the MHCU behind Stree 2, industry experts emphasize that direct comparisons with Stree 2 might be misleading.
Why the Comparison Isn’t Apples-to-Apples:
Stree 2 was a well-established, hugely popular franchise with tremendous brand value and fan following, opening with nearly ₹60 crore. Thamma, on the other hand, is a new entrant in the MHCU and a standalone film introducing vampire folklore to the universe.
Think of it this way: Stree 2 had years of goodwill and anticipation built up, while Thamma is creating its own identity from scratch. In that context, a ₹25 crore opening for a new franchise entry is actually remarkable.
For more insights on what drives successful franchise films, explore our Bollywood franchise analysis.
Ayushmann Khurrana’s Career-Defining Moment
For Ayushmann Khurrana, the horror-comedy is now his biggest-ever opener, as it crossed the first-day earnings of Dream Girl 2, which had made ₹10.69 crore. This isn’t just a milestone—it’s a game-changer that reinforces his status as Bollywood’s “Master of Uniqueness.”
Ayushmann’s Opening Day Evolution:
- Dream Girl (2019): ₹10.06 Cr
- Dream Girl 2 (2023): ₹10.69 Cr
- Thamma (2025): ₹25.11 Cr (new record)
The actor has consistently chosen unconventional scripts—from playing a sperm donor (Vicky Donor) to a bald groom (Bala)—and Thamma continues this tradition by exploring vampire folklore through a comedic lens.
Pan-India Success: Regional Breakdown
One of Thamma’s most impressive achievements is its uniform performance across India. The occupancy in metro cities spoke volumes for the film, with 33.00% in Mumbai and 36.00% in the NCR zone, while tier-2 cities contributed significantly to the overall numbers.
Regional Performance Highlights:
- North India: Strong performance in Delhi-NCR and Punjab circuits
- West India: Mumbai and Maharashtra showed healthy occupancy
- South India: Telugu dubbed version added ₹0.25 crore
- East India: Kolkata and neighboring areas contributed solidly
This pan-India appeal is crucial for building long-term franchise value and positions Thamma for a strong extended weekend run.
The Diwali Advantage: Strategic Release Timing
The makers made a smart move by releasing the film on a Tuesday, October 21, strategically tapping into the Diwali holiday period, which is traditionally a profitable window for big-ticket films. Special midnight screenings created additional buzz, helping the film gather strong word-of-mouth even before the first day began in full swing.
Holiday Period Benefits:
- Extended Diwali week with multiple holidays
- Family audiences looking for festive entertainment
- Minimal competition (only Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, which collected ₹8.5 crore)
- Post-celebration mood favoring light-hearted content
The next five days will be critical. With glowing audience reactions and a long holiday weekend ahead, trade experts predict that Thamma could comfortably cross the ₹75 crore mark within its first three days.
Discover how festival releases impact box office performance on our seasonal trends page.
The Cast Chemistry That’s Working
The pairing of Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna proved to be box office gold. The chemistry between Khurrana and pan-India star Rashmika Mandanna was instrumental in drawing initial audiences into theatres.
For Rashmika, who’s already riding high with Pushpa 2 anticipation and recent successes, Thamma further strengthens her position as a genuine pan-India star. Her ability to seamlessly transition between Telugu blockbusters and Hindi commercial entertainers is rare in contemporary cinema.
Meanwhile, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s portrayal of Yakshaasan, the ruthless vampire king, adds gravitas to the film’s horror elements, balancing the comedy with genuine thrills.
Maddock’s Horror-Comedy Formula: Why It Works
Thamma is the fifth film in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, following Stree, Roohi, Bhediya, and Munjya. Director Aditya Sarpotdar has maintained the delicate balance that made previous entries successful: genuine scares mixed with laugh-out-loud moments.
The MHCU Secret Sauce:
- Rooted in Indian folklore and mythology
- Family-friendly horror that doesn’t traumatize kids
- Strong female characters alongside male leads
- Social commentary wrapped in entertainment
- Post-credit sequences connecting the universe
Producer Dinesh Vijan has effectively created Bollywood’s answer to Marvel’s interconnected universe, proving that Indian mythology offers endless storytelling possibilities.
Mixed Reviews, Strong Word-of-Mouth
The film received mixed reviews from viewers and critics upon its release, resulting in its IMDb rating of 6.2. However, audience reactions on social media have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the fresh take on vampire folklore.
What Audiences Are Saying:
- “Perfect Diwali family entertainer with the right balance of horror and comedy”
- “Ayushmann’s transformation into Betaal is both funny and impressive”
- “Rashmika brings her South cinema energy to Bollywood beautifully”
- “Not as impactful as Stree 2 but definitely worth a watch”
The film’s family-friendly certification is drawing multi-generational audiences, which bodes well for sustained collections through the holiday period.
The Weekend Projections: Can It Hit ₹100 Crore?
With a ₹25.11 crore opening, Thamma is well-positioned for a strong extended first weekend. Here’s what trade analysts are predicting:
Conservative Estimate:
- Day 2 (Wednesday): ₹14-16 Cr
- Day 3 (Thursday): ₹12-14 Cr
- Day 4 (Friday): ₹17-19 Cr
- First Weekend Total: ₹68-74 Cr
Optimistic Scenario:
- Day 2: ₹18-20 Cr
- Day 3: ₹15-17 Cr
- Day 4: ₹22-24 Cr
- First Weekend Total: ₹80-86 Cr
If positive word-of-mouth sustains through the week and second weekend holds at 50-60%, crossing ₹100 crore domestically is very achievable. A lifetime total of ₹150-180 crore would position it as a solid success for Maddock Films.
What Makes This Opening Special
Beyond the numbers, Thamma’s opening day success represents several significant trends:
- Audience hunger for original stories: Despite franchise fatigue in Hollywood, Indian audiences embrace fresh mythology-based narratives
- Regional cinema stars in Hindi films: Rashmika’s pan-India appeal proves South actors can open Hindi films
- Diwali window viability: Tuesday releases during festive periods can rival Friday openers
- Horror-comedy genre strength: The genre continues to resonate with family audiences
The Verdict: Well Begun Is Half Done
In the wise words of trade analysts covering the opening: “Well begun is half done.” Thamma has secured a strong launch that gives it excellent positioning for the extended holiday weekend.
The film’s success isn’t just about one day’s collection—it’s about proving that Indian folklore offers unlimited storytelling potential, that regional and Hindi cinema can collaborate successfully, and that audiences crave original content even within franchise universes.
Producer Dinesh Vijan reportedly wanted Thamma to feel like a celebration for fans who’ve followed the MHCU journey from Stree to its latest supernatural-romance chapter, and based on opening day numbers and audience reactions, he’s succeeded.
As Ayushmann Khurrana’s character would say: “Main Betaal hoon, Thama hoon!” (I am Betaal, I am Thama!). And audiences are responding with a resounding “Hum bhi saath hain!” (We’re with you too!).
The next week will determine whether Thamma becomes just a successful opener or joins Stree 2 in the pantheon of MHCU classics. But for now, congratulations are in order for everyone involved in this Diwali winner.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does Thamma’s ₹25 crore opening compare to other Bollywood releases in 2025?
A: Thamma opened as the 4th highest Bollywood opener of 2025, which is impressive for a standalone film without an established franchise. For comparison, Stree 2 opened with nearly ₹60 crore, while Chhaava secured a massive opening as well. However, Thamma’s ₹25.11 crore significantly outperformed recent releases like Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and completely dominated its direct Diwali competitor Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat (₹8.5 crore). The opening also represents a 134% increase over Ayushmann’s previous best (Dream Girl 2 at ₹10.69 crore), demonstrating both the MHCU brand power and the actor’s growing box office pull. Given that horror-comedies typically have lower openings than action or romantic films, this number is exceptional.
Q: Why shouldn’t Thamma be directly compared to Stree 2, and what does this opening mean for the MHCU franchise?
A: Industry experts emphasize it’s unfair to compare Thamma with Stree 2 for several key reasons. Thamma is a new entrant in the MHCU and a standalone film, introducing vampire/Betaal mythology for the first time, whereas Stree 2 was a well-established, hugely popular sequel with tremendous brand value built over years. Stree (2018) became a cult classic, giving its sequel massive pre-release awareness and guaranteed audiences. Thamma, however, is building its identity from scratch despite being in the same universe. For the MHCU franchise, Thamma’s ₹25 crore opening is actually highly encouraging—it proves the universe can support multiple mythological stories beyond just Stree. This validates Dinesh Vijan’s strategy of creating an interconnected horror-comedy ecosystem and opens doors for future standalone entries exploring different folklore elements without needing to rely solely on established characters.
