This Diwali, audiences across India flocked to theatres for a celebration not just of the festival, but of uniqueness itself. With Thamma’s record-smashing opening, Ayushmann Khurrana’s career-best launch, the film signals a paradigm shift in Bollywood: quirky, original content now commands the biggest seasonal box office pull. And there’s no one like Ayushmann to deliver it.
From Quirky to Blockbuster: Ayushmann Khurrana rules Diwali box office with Thamma, reinforcing his tag as the Master of Uniqueness!
Ayushmann Khurrana has always been Bollywood’s risk-taker, but with Thamma he’s now “Mr ROI”, bringing producers their most profitable festival film in years. The opening at Rs. 25.11 crores shattered even the most optimistic trade predictions. Thamma’s profitability is assured, driven by Ayushmann’s appeal and the audience’s hunger for something fresh.
Thamma has opened to an impressive Rs. 25.11 crores on Day 1, making it Ayushmann’s biggest opening ever, surpassing Dream Girl 2 (Rs. 10.69 crore) and Bala (Rs. 10.15 crore). For a film released during Diwali , a period traditionally dominated by star-led action or family spectacles, Thamma’s strong start marks a decisive shift in audience tastes toward high-concept, content-driven entertainers.
For the first time ever, a star known for eccentric, offbeat films whose resume includes sperm donor comedies, bald heroes, and taboo-breaking romances has owned Diwali, traditionally reserved for action-heavy, superstar vehicles. Ayushmann’s Betaal (an Indian vampire with no prior Bollywood blueprint) proves that content plus casting is now Bollywood’s most powerful combo.
No mainstream hero has ever played an Indian Betaal, but Ayushmann shouldered this zero-reference-point persona and pulled audiences to theatres by sheer promise: when the name Ayushmann is attached, viewers expect something no one else can deliver. Thamma is not just a box office win it’s a feat of imagination and trust.
Reviews have been unanimous: Ayushmann’s Betaal isn’t just unique, it’s irresistible. There’s not a single Bollywood star who could have made the role work the way he did, and the universal positive response proves it. By winning hearts nationwide, Ayushmann shows that there are no boundaries to his versatility.
Thamma has locked in Ayushmann’s record for his biggest opening weekend, and the film is set to give Maddock and Dinesh Vijan a blockbuster hero that propels the MHCU (Maddock Horror Comedy Universe) to new heights. Fans from every corner horror, comedy, family are joining the MHCU universe on Ayushmann’s shoulders.
His quirky comedies have an astonishing ~90% hit rate, a statistic that no other Bollywood hero can match in the genre. Producers know that if the story is fresh, bold, and smart, Ayushmann is the only choice. Thamma is the cherry on top, with the actor and his director delivering a winning partnership: their last outing together, Bala, was a certified blockbuster, and Thamma cements their record as 100% hit-makers.
Ayushmann Khurrana and Dinesh Vijan have tapped into the evolution of the Indian audience. No longer content with formulaic star vehicles, viewers are prioritizing originality, humour, and new worlds even on the most commercially competitive festivals like Diwali. Thamma’s success is proof that the potent combination of Vijan’s creative vision and Ayushmann’s unique acting and box office credibility is now the surest recipe for a hit.
For producer Dinesh Vijan, the success of Thamma further solidifies the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe’s cult appeal. Starting with Stree and expanding through films like Bala and Bhediya, Vijan has meticulously built a genre where originality meets mass appeal. Thamma is poised to have its biggest opening weekend ever for Ayushmann. If the trend continues (especially bolstered by Diwali holiday lift), a weekend tally in the Rs. 100 crore plus zone is well within reach. Given typical multipliers for films with good word of mouth, a lifetime could comfortably cross Rs. 175-200 crore net, making it among his most profitable ventures.
This performance will not only make Thamma a major money spinner for Maddock and its backers but also shift currency: quirky originals gain even more festival cred, and Ayushmann’s pull in that space becomes more unassailable.
As Diwali 2025 sets new box office records, one thing is clear: Ayushmann Khurrana is the undisputed master of uniqueness. Thamma is his triumph, a festival-defining original that couldn’t have worked with any other actor, and the MHCU now boasts a new hero that will drive its future stories. For producers, this is the era of calculated creative risk. For audiences, it’s the age of content Ayushmann content. And for Bollywood, it’s a reminder that the master of uniqueness keeps winning, one quirky blockbuster at a time.
Also Read: REVEALED: These are the actors that have EXCITING cameos in Thamma (WARNING: Spoilers Ahead)
More Pages: Thamma Box Office Collection , Thamma Movie Review
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