Bollywood’s versatile star Ayushmann Khurrana made a stylish appearance at the inaugural ceremony of FICCI Frames 2025, the annual convention dedicated to the business of media and entertainment. While the event saw an array of industry bigwigs and policy-makers under one roof, all eyes were on Ayushmann as he opened up about his highly anticipated Diwali release — Thamma.
In a candid chat during the ceremony, Ayushmann described Thamma as a “genesis” — a new and darker chapter in the wildly popular Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. He said, “It’s based out of Indian folklore. We’ve all heard about Betaals, but Thamma is the most powerful Betaal. It’s my first Diwali release in over a decade of working in this industry — and also my biggest, in terms of scale, marketing, and universe.”
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and written by Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, and Arun Falara, Thamma promises to blend scares, laughs, and a touch of the supernatural romance Maddock’s horror comedies have become famous for. This fifth installment in the universe stars Ayushmann alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Paresh Rawal, with music composed by hitmakers Sachin–Jigar.
Principal photography wrapped up earlier this year, with shoots taking place in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ooty. With the release date locked in for October 21, 2025, right in time for Diwali, Thamma is being positioned as a full-blown festive entertainer — spooky enough to thrill, but light-hearted enough to bring families together.
As Ayushmann put it, “It’s a commercial film, a total Diwali entertainer — and I’m very excited to be part of what I think is the most successful cinematic universe in Hindi cinema today.” His enthusiasm mirrored that of fans who have come to love the genre-blending formula the franchise is known for.
Get ready for a Betaal with bite, laughter that lingers, and a Diwali night that promises more than just fireworks — Thamma is coming to haunt the box office.