Chatting with Ayushmann Khurrana, you’d never guess he’s the type to battle mythical beasts on foggy peaks or leap between rooftops. Yet here he is, recounting how a fictional bear tossed him across the Ooty mountains.
“It was wild,” he chuckles, reminiscing about a scene from his upcoming film Thamma. “And honestly, it was hilarious since there wasn’t a real bear around.”
It’s just Ayushmann acting while the VFX team works their magic later.
This is the flavor of his latest cinematic journey, debuting next week on October 21. Thamma, the latest in the Maddock horror-comedy universe, isn’t about jump scares but rather dramatic shifts from horror to romance to sheer absurdity. Ayushmann seems to savor every moment.
“We’ve been discussing this project for four or five years,” he shares. “It’s a genesis story, a new chapter. Completely different from my previous work.”
If you’ve seen Stree, Bhediya, or Munjya, you’re familiar with the Maddock style: folklore laced with meta-humor, a sprinkle of social commentary, and just enough spook to make you jump before you laugh. But Thamma elevates folklore and romance further.
Though labeled a vampire story, Ayushmann insists it’s “very Indianized.” “We drew inspiration from our folklore, the Betals of Indian mythology,” he explains. “Thamma is the mightiest Betal. But it’s not just a monster flick; it’s about a regular guy suddenly endowed with superpowers, who’s clueless about managing them.”
There’s romance and action too, Ayushmann adds. “We’ve crammed a lot into these two and a half hours. It’s going to be a blast.”
For an actor known for grounded, slice-of-life roles — Vicky Donor, Article 15, Andhadhun — Ayushmann’s dive into high-concept fantasy is a bold move.
“I’ve been in realistic films for a decade,” he admits. “But this — leaping from buildings — is completely new.”
Perhaps An Action Hero (2022) gave him a taste of action, though he describes Thamma as “fantastical” and “not my alley.” Yet his tone reveals excitement about this new direction.
Chemistry, Chaos, and Co-stars
One highlight of Thamma is its diverse cast. Rashmika Mandanna stars as the female lead, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays a “joker-like villain — funny and deceptive,” according to Ayushmann.
“This is my first film with Rashmika,” he says. “She brings such positive energy to the set. And Nawaz is among the finest actors in our country, truly enjoying his role. Working again with Paresh Rawal after Dream Girl 2 was a delight.”
With such a cast, Thamma’s set likely felt as much like a playground as a workplace, albeit an intense one. The team completed filming in just 55 days, which Ayushmann describes as “a boot camp.”
“We were a passionate group striving for something extraordinary,” he says.
And no Maddock film is complete without a nod to contemporary culture. The trailer for Thamma features a snippet of the viral track “Dame Un Grrr,” prompting curiosity about the filmmakers’ whims.
“That was a last-minute addition,” Ayushmann reveals. “Dinesh (Vijan) thought it would trend and connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.”
Making a film about Betals naturally raises questions about belief in the paranormal. Ayushmann, ever the realist, is cautious: “Until you experience it, you don’t believe it.”
Yet he admits to a scare during a shoot in Himachal. “I was staying at a vintage hotel when I heard knocking from inside the room. It turned out to be from the cupboard. I got spooked, turned on the lights, and said, ‘Whoever you are, I don’t want to disturb you, and I ask the same from you.’ And the noise stopped.”
It seems to work; expressing your thoughts, whatever they may be.
Maybe that’s the lesson of Thamma: make peace with the ghosts, or ancient vampires, and they’ll let you be.
When asked what the film taught him, Ayushmann’s response is surprisingly introspective.
“It taught me self-expression without motivation,” he says. “In a realistic film, you react to real people and emotions. Here, you act opposite imaginary entities, imagining fear and danger. It’s all in your head. Your imagination runs wild, and you need to push yourself.”
Will we see more of Ayushmann in the MHU? “I’m now an intrinsic part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe,” he says. “Sequels, cameos — it’s all happening. I think it’s here to stay.”
