Ayushmann's 'Thamma' Triples Rane's Romance on Diwali Box Office

When Ayushmann Khurrana, actor of Maddock Films, released the horror‑comedy Thamma on October 21, 2025, it smashed the opening‑day numbers of Harshvardhan Rane’s romantic drama.

Background: The Maddock Horror‑Comedy Universe

The ThammaIndia is the fifth installment in the studio’s so‑called Horror Comedy Universe, a spin‑off from the wildly successful Stree franchise. The formula—mixing folk‑mythical monsters with contemporary humor—has proven a box‑office magnet since Stree 2 pulled in roughly ₹35 cr on day one.

Co‑starring Rashmika Mandanna as the enigmatic betaal Tadaka and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the mischievous Yakshasan, the film promised a fresh blend of scares and laughs.

Opening‑Day Numbers: A Triple‑Fold Gap

Trade trackers at Sacnilk.com put Thamma’s nett collection at ₹24.35 cr, while The Bridge Chronicle nudged it to ₹25.11 cr and Telegraph India logged ₹24.50 cr. By contrast, Harshvardhan Rane’s Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat managed only about ₹8.5 cr across the same slate of theatres.

In plain terms, the horror comedy earned roughly three times the money that the romance did on its first day, a disparity that surprised many analysts who had expected the latter’s pre‑release buzz to translate into stronger cash.

Occupancy vs. Revenue: The Numbers Game

Interestingly, the romance posted a higher overall occupancy—39.51% versus Thamma’s 34.5%—but that advantage was offset by ticket‑price differentials and premium‑screen allocations. Morning shows for the horror comedy saw a modest 15.76% fill‑rate, climbing to a peak of 42.91% in the evening before slipping to 39.5% at night. The romance, meanwhile, peaked at 47.16% in the evening slot.

This suggests that while more seats were taken for Rane’s film, audiences were willing to pay more (or opt for higher‑priced formats) for the Madhock offering—likely because of its wider release in multiplexes and the presence of star power.

Critical Reception vs. Audience Response

Critics gave Thamma mixed reviews, pointing out a formulaic plot but praising the comic timing of Khurrana and the unsettling performance of Siddiqui. Nevertheless, the film’s occupancy curve indicates strong word‑of‑mouth, especially in tier‑A cities where it held steady above 40% after the afternoon surge.

Rane’s romance, despite its higher seat‑fill, struggled with lukewarm critic scores and a niche appeal that limited repeat viewings. Still, fan forums noted a “cult‑like” admiration for the chemistry between Rane and Sonam Bajwa, with many viewers praising the daring teaser that warned of love‑driven downfall.

What This Means for the Franchise

The opening day positions Thamma as the biggest debut of Ayushmann Khurrana’s career, a milestone highlighted by The Economic Times. Although it falls short of the ₹35 cr record set by Stree 2, it still signals a robust health for Maddock’s horror‑comedy pipeline.

Industry watchers, including MensXP’s Gaurang Chauhan, note that the film’s success despite “poor buzz” underscores the staying power of the franchise’s brand over individual marketing pushes.

Future Outlook: Box‑Office Trajectory and Next Projects

With no major releases slated for the rest of the week, analysts project that Thamma could comfortably cross the ₹100 cr mark by the end of its six‑day extended weekend, especially if occupancy stays above 35% in smaller markets.

Meanwhile, Maddock Films has already hinted at its next universe entry—Shakti Shalini, starring newcomer Aneet Padda—suggesting the studio is banking on a steady stream of genre‑blended offerings.

For Rane and Bajwa, the road ahead may involve leveraging the romantic drama’s niche fan base to secure overseas screenings, a strategy that could push the film past the ₹50 cr domestic ceiling MensXP predicts.