After a two-year absence from the big screen, Ayushmann Khurrana returns this Diwali with Thamma, a film that industry insiders regard as one of the biggest turning points in his career. The film arrives at a moment when his box office run has seen more misses than hits, making this release a litmus test for his commercial viability and creative direction.
Recent Career Trajectory: Hits and Flops
Over the past six years, Khurrana has had only two major box office successes:
- Dream Girl 2 (2023) – approximately ₹106.7 crore (hit)
- Bala (2019) – around ₹110.9 crore (super hit)
In contrast, his intervening releases have struggled at the box office:
- An Action Hero (2022) – ₹11.3 crore (flop)
- Doctor G (2022) – ₹27.98 crore (flop)
- Anek (2022) – ₹7.02 crore (disaster)
- Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021) – ₹20.91 crore (flop)
- Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) – ₹58.92 crore (below average)
Khurrana did not release a film in 2024, making Thamma his next major outing and one many believe he cannot afford to falter with.
Thamma: A Different Kind of Diwali Film
Produced by Maddock Films, Thamma places Khurrana in an unfamiliar avatar: part human, part vampire blending dark comedy, thriller and fantasy while retaining his signature humorous touch. This mix marks a departure from the more grounded social comedies he is known for.
The film is part of the expanding “horror-comedy universe” that includes hits such as Stree, Stree 2 and Munjya. Maddock Films hopes the thematic continuity and built-in fan base of this universe will help Thamma punch above its weight.
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdkar who helmed Munjya, Thamma also brings together elements of social commentary, romance, and dark humour. The film also features Rashmika Mandanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in pivotal roles, and its music is already gaining traction ahead of release.
Though it may not match the scale of typical Diwali blockbusters, Thamma is expected to lean heavily on word-of-mouth promotion, much like earlier entries in the Maddock horror-comedy universe.
Expert View: A Pivotal Moment
Trade and marketing expert Girish Wankhede weighs in on the stakes. He notes that while Khurrana has long been appreciated for bold, offbeat choices from Vicky Donor and Dum Laga Ke Haisha to Andhadhun his recent films failed to match that earlier box office momentum.
Wankhede describes Thamma as “a pivotal release” that gives Khurrana a chance to transcend his niche reputation and prove that he can be a mainstream, bankable star. If Thamma succeeds, it could be the defining moment that realigns his career trajectory.
Risks, Opportunities, and What Lies Ahead
For Khurrana, Thamma carries both risks and opportunities. It is experimental in tone and genre, and thus a potential liability. But if well-received, it could serve as a reinvention, a return to relevance, not just in critical acclaim but in box office clout.
Success for Thamma could heal the widening gap in his career graph by merging his comfort zone of intelligent, socially aware cinema with a broader, mass-friendly appeal. On the flip side, a tepid performance could deepen doubts about his box office pull.
In many ways, Thamma represents more than just a film release, it’s Ayushmann Khurrana’s bid for a reset under the glare of Diwali lights. For fans and industry alike, all eyes will be on its performance, both in theatres and in conversations after.
By – Sonali