In a film career of over 12 years, Ayushmann Khurrana has scored a first. Mostly known for his innate ability to convert mid-sized budget films with quirky themes and social commentary into box-office winners, the 41-year-old actor has not only had a big festival release — his first ever — with Thamma, but also powered it to his highest-ever box-office opening of ₹25-crore-plus.

Thamma, which marks Ayushmann’s entry into the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) that was spawned by Stree seven years ago, has him playing Alok, a regular city boy, whose chance encounter with an otherworldly creature (Rashmika Mandanna’s Tadaka) sets him off on a new journey in life (and death).

Fresh from the success of Thamma — which comes more than two years after Ayushmann’s Dream Girl 2, which was also a big box-office earner — Ayushmann chatted with t2.

What is the predominant tenor of the feedback so far? What is the audience liking the most about the film in general and about your character and its portrayal in particular?

It is overwhelming and my heart is full of gratitude. This was my first big Diwali release — I have followed my gut while choosing films on unique subjects with an element of quirk that has mostly worked big time. I am very happy with the start that I have been able to provide for Thamma and deeply grateful to the audience for loving my work in the film. It was not easy to play a character with no reference point in Indian cinema and this genre is one of the toughest to perform on. The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) has a certain following — so I wanted Thamma, an origin film, to start well. I am happy with Day One and I hope the film becomes a roaring success for my producer Dinesh Vijan and the entire Maddock team, including Amar Kaushik (co-producer) and my director Aditya Sarpotdar.

I also visited theatres to see how the audiences are responding to the film and it is so satisfying as an actor to see that your work is being appreciated.

Humour has always played a big part in your kind of cinema, even the ones with social commentary. Thamma, of course, has a lot of humour. Did it feel like a different kind of humour or one that is up your alley?

That is true... humour has been an integral part of most of my successful films. Even if it has an underlying social message, humour makes it palatable to audiences to consume it. Unique, quirky content is what I have chosen and all of those films have worked wonders at the box office, be it Dream Girl, Badhaai Ho, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Andhadhun or Dream Girl 2, which was my highest opener. Now my biggest opener is Thamma and I am happy to see how people want to see me bring in original, unique content to theatres. The ₹25-crore-plus on Day One is a strong validation and a message to me from audiences.

What was your first reaction when you were approached for Thamma, given it is so different from what you have done so far?

I love to challenge myself as an actor, and playing Thamma was a challenge — it is a character who is your normal guy-next-door, but gets into the supernatural zone and attains powers. Showing that arc, that transition was challenging and satisfying. This is my second association with Maddock Films after the blockbuster Bala. The discussion around Thamma was going on for a while, and I knew when we come back as a team, it had to be a big one.

Even before I became a part of Thamma, I was well-versed with this world, given that I have been a big fan of the Stree films. Also, my brother (Aparshakti Khurana) has been a part of this universe right from Stree (2018). I liked jamming on Thamma with the makers — there are so many elements to this universe that somehow always manage to seamlessly connect together, while providing wholesome entertainment. The fact that they also dig deep into our folklore and come up with stories that not many of us are aware of, also appeals to me about this universe. Thamma came in with all of that.

This film also gave me the chance to do a different kind of action. I have done a bit of action before — like in An Action Hero (2022) — but that was a more ‘real’ kind of action. In Thamma, the action veers more towards the fantastical, which is what this genre demands. That was interesting for me.

When I was approached for Thamma, I realised this is a horror rom-com, but then it fits into the criteria of being a unique original film. I am glad that people are saying Thamma has been a great addition to the MHCU.

What does it mean to have such a huge Diwali release and score the biggest opening of your career? You have had massive hits before but how much do numbers validate you as an actor?

It is absolutely validating... it tells an actor how good he is and how dependable he is for his producer. ROI (return on investment) is important for any producer, and I am equally mindful of it while picking up projects. I have never had a Diwali release and wanted my first release during a festival to be celebratory for me, my audience and the maker. Being an origin film, the stakes were high. Numbers are important for any actor, so yes, I do feel an actor should be conscious of how a film fares and how he or she manages to open a film as that benefits the producer a lot and aids in the positive perception of any movie.

Thamma comes more than two years after your last release, Dream Girl 2. Did the break give you time to step back and introspect about how far you have come in a little over a decade and the direction in which you will go next?

I think it was a little bit of both. Before this, I had been having multiple releases every year, most of which did well at the box office. Even Dream Girl 2 was a hit. It was a mid-budget film that made ₹100-crore plus at the box office. We have been jamming on Thamma for the last three-four years and I thought that when I came back (after Dream Girl 2), it had to be a big film, a big release, a festival release... and I am so glad it played out like that.

The success of Thamma will definitely propel my forthcoming films at the box office. After this, I have Pati Patni Aur Woh Do (with Sara Ali Khan, Wamiqa Gabbi and Rakul Preet Singh) and Sooraj Barjatya’s film (with Sharvari).

What has also worked for Thamma is that it is well cast, with every actor completely getting the memo of what their role demands. What was it like sharing screen space with Rashmika Mandanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, in particular, and what were your biggest takeaways from that experience?

I am glad we had this array of actors. Paresh Rawal sir is a seasoned actor and so is Nawazuddin. They have both dabbled with villainous and comedic roles and in Thamma, they lend a lot of credibility to their characters. Rashmika, of course, has this agency as a protagonist and I love that pre-interval scene of hers when she becomes a saviour. The film also gives a hero-like entry to her character (Tadaka), and that is beautiful. I am glad that all these four main characters in the film are so well-etched and they all have a certain agency.

It is like a good buffet out there. Nawaz is a quirky villain, very Joker-like. The chemistry between my character and that of Rashmika’s is being widely appreciated and that is very heartening to see.

As an actor, what part of the film did you enjoy doing the most and which part has been the most enjoyable to watch as a viewer?

The superhero transition sequence — the one in which my character, Alok, becomes aware of his new-found powers — was enjoyable to enact. He is trying to control his powers in what is the ‘niyantran’ sequence... he is trying to figure out what to do and what not to do with them, how to deal with the superpowers. He is flying around and that was a lot of fun. Also, I loved doing the fight sequence with Bhediya (Varun Dhawan) and the climax scene.

Even as an audience, I enjoyed watching these scenes on screen because they are a visual delight. Thamma is definitely a big-screen experience.

As you mentioned, there are quite a few films coming up. What is the way forward for you as an actor in particular, and as a multi-hyphenate talent in general?

I am looking at a mix of everything. I always like doing films with different, unique subjects. It doesn’t have to be in a particular genre, I like working in different genres. It is the timing of that genre that counts. After Thamma, I strongly believe that the family comedy space is a genre that works every time and in every season. I have a film coming up which is a co-production of Sikhya (Entertainment) and Dharma (Productions), which is quite a unique genre (the untitled film, with Sara Ali Khan as Ayushmann’s co-star, is said to be a spy comedy). Then, as I mentioned, there is Sooraj Barjatya’s film, which is a pure family film. We have not seen that kind of film in ages and I think that there is space for that kind of genre.

And what can we expect from Ayushmann the musician?

I will be singing in my films — an original song or a reprised version. I will be coming out with my version of Rahein na rahein hum (from Thamma) very soon.