Dinesh Vijan, the architect of India’s most bankable horror-comedy franchise, has confirmed a seven-film expansion of Maddock Films’ shared universe over the next five years. Speaking at the Fortune India Best CEOs 2025 event, Vijan revealed the upcoming titles: Shakti Shalini, Bhediya 2, Chamunda, Maha Munjya, Pehla Mahayudh, Doosra Mahayudh, and an untitled AI-driven spectacle.
The announcement rides the wave of Maddock’s recent juggernauts: Stree 2 (₹850 crore+ worldwide), Munjya (₹170 crore on a ₹30 crore budget), and the freshly released Thamma. “We’re not chasing 10 films a year. The sweet spot is three to four films, letting franchises breathe and grow for a decade,” Vijan said, comparing the strategy to Marvel’s disciplined rollout.
Technology: The Next Big Disruptor
Vijan was equally candid about the seismic shift coming to filmmaking. “AI and next-gen VFX will be the biggest disruptors in the next 18–24 months,” he predicted. “Photorealistic visuals will become dramatically cheaper, allowing us to tell bolder, more distinctive stories without Hollywood-level budgets.” He stressed Maddock’s platform-agnostic approach: theatrical tentpoles, OTT originals, and even mobile-first content. “Short-form is pulling eyeballs, but rooted, high-quality storytelling still wins,” he added.
Balancing Commerce and Craft
While horror-comedy remains the studio’s golden goose, Vijan is balancing the slate with prestige projects like Sriram Raghavan’s war epic Ikkis starring Dharmendra and Agastya Nanda. “We want films that make money and films that make history,” he concluded.With this blueprint, Maddock Films is cementing its position as India’s first true genre studio, fusing folklore, fear, and cutting-edge technology for the long haul.
-By Manoj H