Thamma Box Office Analysis: Why Ayushmann and Rashmika’s Film Crashes – Full Breakdown
Thamma under-performs badly with a ₹75 Cr first week against a ₹200 Cr budget. Here’s why forecasts failed and what the makers are doing now
Mumbai, 15 November 2025: The entire film industry was waiting for ‘Thamma’. It was supposed to be the biggest blockbuster of 2025. It had a huge superstar, a famous director, and a big budget. Everyone expected it to break all box office records. But the results are in, and it is a big shock. The film performed badly in its first week. The collections are very low.
This has sent a wave of shock across Bollywood. Why did a film with so much promise fail to bring audiences to the theatre? We at BoxOfficeWala will do a deep analysis. We will look at the forecast, the wrong assumptions, and the corrective actions the makers are taking now.
The Big Forecast: What ‘Thamma’ Was Supposed to Earn</h2>
‘Thamma’ was not just a movie. It was an event. Let us look at why everyone, including the trade, expected it to be a massive hit.
A ₹200 Crore Gamble
‘Thamma’ was made on a huge budget. Reports suggest the total cost, including marketing, was over ₹200 Crore. When a film has this budget, it must earn at least ₹350-400 Crore to be called a “Hit.” The makers were very confident. They spent a lot on promotions and launched the film on a very wide scale.
The “Sure-Shot” Hit Formula
On paper, ‘Thamma’ had everything.
- Big Superstar: It starred Rajiv Kapoor, a star who can guarantee a big opening.
- Acclaimed Director: It was directed by Anish Roy, who is known for his emotional and award-winning films.
- Strong Theme: The film was an emotional drama about a mother (played by veteran actress Sudha Sharma) and her son.
- Release Date: It was released on November 7, right after the big Diwali holidays. The mood was festive, and families were expected to come.
The Initial Projections
Because of this “hit formula,” trade experts were very positive. Everyone predicted a huge opening day of around ₹35 Crore to ₹40 Crore. The forecast for the first weekend was a massive ₹120 Crore. The lifetime collection was expected to easily cross the ₹300 Crore mark. This was the assumption.
The Reality: ‘Thamma’s’ Shocking Box Office Collection
The film was released on Friday, November 7. The morning shows started, and the first numbers came in. They were not just bad; they were a disaster.
A Disappointing Opening Day
Instead of the ₹35 Crore forecast, ‘Thamma’ opened to a very low ₹15 Crore. This was less than half of what was expected. The industry was in shock. The star power of Rajiv Kapoor did not work. The morning shows were empty, and even the evening shows did not pick up.
No Weekend Growth
A film can sometimes save itself with good word-of-mouth. If the opening is bad, it can grow on Saturday and Sunday. For ‘Thamma’, the opposite happened. The audience reviews were very mixed. People called the film “too slow” and “very sad.”
- Friday: ₹15 Crore
- Saturday: ₹18 Crore (a very small jump)
- Sunday: ₹17 Crore (a drop)
The first weekend total was only ₹50 Crore. This was a complete rejection. The forecast was ₹120 Crore, and the film made less than half.
The First Week Total
The film crashed on Monday. It collected only ₹5 Crore. The first week (7 days) ended at a terrible ₹75 Crore.
What This Collection Means
A ₹75 Crore first week on a ₹200 Crore budget is a disaster. The film is a big-budget flop. It will not even collect ₹100 Crore in its lifetime. The distributors and theatre owners who bought the film will lose a lot of money. It is the biggest shock of 2025.
Analyzing the Assumptions: Why Did ‘Thamma’ Fail?
So, what went wrong? The producers made some big assumptions about the audience. All those assumptions were wrong.
The ‘Star Power’ Myth
The makers assumed that Rajiv Kapoor’s name was enough. They thought his fans would come to the theatre no matter what. This is the biggest lesson from ‘Thamma’. The Indian audience has changed. They will not come to the theatre just for a big star. The content must be good. Just having a superstar is not a guarantee for success anymore.
A Mismatch in Tone
‘Thamma’ is a very slow, dark, and sad emotional drama. After the happy festive season of Diwali, audiences wanted to watch something fun. They wanted entertainment, comedy, and action. A heavy, depressing film was the last thing they wanted. The makers did not understand the mood of the nation.
The Music Failed to Connect
In Bollywood, hit music is half the battle won. Hit songs pull people to the theatres. The music for ‘Thamma’ was very serious and old-fashioned. Not a single song became a chartbuster. The music failed to create any pre-release buzz for the film.
Confusing Marketing
The trailers and promos for ‘Thamma’ were also a problem. The trailers were long, slow, and confusing. They did not show the main story clearly. The marketing team tried to sell it as a serious “art film.” But the audience was expecting a “family entertainer” from Rajiv Kapoor. This confused the audience.
The Surprise Competition
‘Thamma’ was the only big film. But it was not the only film. This week, a new comedy, ‘De De Pyaar De 2’, was released. Also, a south-dubbed film, ‘Kaantha’, was doing well. These smaller films were more entertaining. Audiences who found ‘Thamma’ too expensive and too sad chose to watch these other films instead. The audience got divided.
The Damage Control: Corrective Actions by the Team
The film is a flop. But the producers are now in “damage control” mode. They are trying to reduce their losses. Here is what they are doing.
Slashing Ticket Prices
This was the first and most important step. The ticket prices for ‘Thamma’ were very high. From its second Friday (November 14), the producers have announced a big price drop. They are running “Family Day” offers on weekdays, with all tickets at a flat, low price. They hope this will attract some families who stayed away.
A New Marketing Push
The team knows the first trailers failed. They are now cutting new, shorter trailers. These new promos are very different. They are only showing the few happy, light-hearted moments from the film. They are focusing on the mother-son relationship. They are trying to rebrand it as a “heart-touching film to watch with your mother.”
Using Star Power for PR
Rajiv Kapoor and director Anish Roy are in damage control. They are doing emergency interviews. They are visiting theatres and appealing to fans. They are asking audiences to “give the film a chance” and “not believe the negative reviews.” This is a last-ditch effort to create some buzz.
Focusing on the OTT Deal
The producers are smart. They know the box office battle is lost. The main goal now is to recover the ₹200 Crore budget. Their main focus has shifted to the “after-release” deals. They will now negotiate very hard with streaming platforms like Netflix or Prime Video. They will try to sell the film for a very high price. They will also sell the satellite TV rights. This is now the only way they can cover their big losses.
Opinion
The failure of ‘Thamma’ is a clear message from the Indian audience. The audience is the real boss. No film is too big to fail. Superstars and big budgets are good, but a good story and entertainment are more important. ‘Thamma’ is a well-made film, but it was perhaps the wrong film at the wrong time. This is a big wake-up call for all of Bollywood. Listen to your audience. Content is, and will always be, the real superstar.
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