Bollywood is stepping into fresh territory this Diwali with Thama, a romantic horror-comedy that promises vampires, mythology, and quirky humor in equal measure. The makers have just dropped the first look, and the buzz is already wild.
The Character Posters
The posters introduce four intriguing characters, each hinting at the film’s supernatural flavor:
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Ayushmann Khurrana as Alok – a historian pitched as humanity’s last hope.
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Rashmika Mandanna as Tadaka – described as the first ray of light in the dark tale.
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Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Yakshasan – the self-styled king of darkness, bringing menace with a twist of comedy.
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Paresh Rawal as Mr. Ram Bajaj Goyal – the ever-skeptical elder, promising comic relief even in chaos.
Teaser: A Peek Into the “World of Thama”
The teaser, unveiled a day after the posters, sets up a bloody love story. It blends gothic romance with desi humor, giving audiences a mix of intense romance, supernatural action, and even a dance cameo by Malaika Arora. Ayushmann and Rashmika’s emotional exchanges suggest that love, not just fear, drives the story, while Nawazuddin’s darkly funny vampire act steals the spotlight.
The internet has exploded with mixed but exciting reactions:
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Positive hype: Many are calling it “epic” and praising the blend of romance and horror.
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Scene comparisons: Some viewers spotted a rooftop sequence in the teaser resembling a popular moment from the Korean drama My Demon, sparking debate over inspiration vs coincidence.
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Nawazuddin love: Twitter/X is full of posts saying Nawazuddin might “steal the film in 5 minutes flat.”
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A new spin in Maddock’s horror-comedy universe: Unlike Stree or Munjya, Thama leans heavily on romance, making it the first love story in the shared spooky universe.
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Mythological roots: The title seems inspired by Ashwatthama, the cursed immortal from the Mahabharata, hinting at a deep mythological undercurrent beneath the vampire narrative.
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Dual timeline: Early reports suggest the plot may travel between modern-day India and ancient Vijayanagar, connecting history with supernatural folklore.
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The Vampire Angle
Until now, Maddock’s spooky films focused on witches, shape-shifters, and folk demons. With Thama, vampires take the spotlight—desi style. -
Romance First, Horror Second
While Stree was a satire and Bhediya was a creature comedy, Thama is built around an epic love story. The teaser makes it clear: this is Bollywood’s spin on the “bloody romance” genre. -
Mythological Connection
The title may be a nod to Ashwatthama, the immortal warrior from the Mahabharata. If true, this link could root the vampire myth in ancient Indian legends, giving the story more cultural depth. -
A Shared Universe
Since it’s part of Maddock’s horror-comedy universe, fans are already speculating: Will characters from Stree or Bhediya appear? Could Shraddha Kapoor’s mysterious witch cross paths with Nawazuddin’s vampire?
Thama is slated for a Diwali 2025 release, positioning it as Maddock’s big festive blockbuster. The film will likely clash with at least one other major release, but its unique mix of romance, horror, comedy, and mythology gives it a strong advantage.