Ayushmann Khurrana is celebrating a career milestone as his latest film, "Thamma," has achieved his biggest opening day collection to date. The horror-comedy, which also stars Rashmika Mandanna, opened in theaters on Diwali and has garnered ₹25.11 crore net in India on its first day. According to Maddock Films, this makes "Thamma" the highest opener for an original story within the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), surpassing "Stree," "Bhediya," and "Munjya".
Khurrana expressed his excitement and gratitude for the film's success, stating, "I'm an entertainer, so it brings me so much joy to see people loving and enjoying 'Thamma' and my performance during this big Diwali holiday". He also acknowledged his long-held desire to have a film release during Diwali, a festival typically dominated by major superstar releases. "Having carved a niche with my unique, quirky films, I was eagerly waiting for that one opportunity to bring my brand of cinema on Diwali," he added.
"Thamma" faced competition from other films, including "Kantara: Chapter 1". Despite this, "Thamma" emerged as the leading choice for moviegoers. The film's strong opening day has led to high expectations for a record-breaking opening weekend for Khurrana.
The film is the fifth installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. The movie revolves around Alok (Ayushmann Khurrana), a journalist, who is saved by Thadaka (Rashmika Mandanna), a Betaal woman. When Alok dies in an accident, Thadaka turns him into a Betaal to save him.
Initial audience reactions on social media have been mixed. Some viewers have praised the unique storyline and the performances of the lead actors, while others felt the story was slow. Rashmika Mandanna's performance has been highlighted as a pleasant surprise, with many appreciating her natural and heartfelt portrayal. Ayushmann Khurrana and Nawazuddin Siddiqui have also been commended for their powerful performances.
Industry tracker Sacnilk reported that "Thamma" earned ₹24 crore net on its opening day. Hindustan Times reported that the film earned ₹25.11 crore net (₹30 crore gross) in India on its opening day. Worldwide, the film grossed ₹32 crore on its opening day. On its second day, the film collected ₹18 crore, bringing its two-day total to ₹42 crore.
Khurrana sees the success of "Thamma" as a validation of his career choices and a sign that audiences are receptive to original stories, even during major holiday releases. "The first-day love that I have got, that the film has got, busts a lot of myths that people only want to see sequels and remakes and big superstar movies on Diwali," he stated.
"Thamma" also stars Paresh Rawal and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in key roles. The film is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar.
While "Thamma" is currently playing in theaters, there was an initial expectation for it to be released on Amazon Prime Video around October 30, roughly four weeks after its theatrical debut. However, due to the strong performance of "Kantara: Chapter 1," the streaming date is now uncertain and may be postponed.
