Ayushmann Khurrana’s Big Change: The Evolution in ‘Thamma’

October 21, 2025 — Ayushmann Khurrana has always been known for his special, different movies. He is the king of films that talk about social issues with a bit of humor. Films like Vicky Donor, Badhaai Ho, and Dream Girl made him a star. Now, with the release of Thamma, he takes a huge jump. He moves into the world of horror-comedy and supernatural action. This shift shows a big evolution in his acting career.

Ayushmann Khurrana: From ‘Social Comedy King’ to Action Star

For many years, Ayushmann was the face of the “middle cinema.” These were movies with a strong message, low budget, but big heart. His characters were relatable middle-class men. They dealt with common but tricky problems.

The Early Success: The Relatable Guy

• Slice-of-Life: In films like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Article 15, he showed great range. He could be funny and serious at the same time.
• A Familiar Face: The audience loved his honest, boy-next-door image. They knew he would bring something new to the screen, even with a simple story.
• The Comfort Zone: This genre became his comfort zone. While successful, critics sometimes wondered if he would ever try a big, commercial, action-heavy film.

The Big Leap: Entering the Maddock Universe

Thamma is the fifth movie in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU). This is the same successful world that gave us Stree and Bhediya. Joining this universe is a huge step for Ayushmann.

His New Role: The Vampire/Betaal

In Thamma, Ayushmann plays Alok Goyal, a shy TV journalist who becomes a ‘Betaal’ (a vampire-like creature). This role is totally new for him.

• Breaking the Mold: He is no longer the common man. He is a supernatural being with special powers. This requires a completely different style of acting, action, and body language.
• Physical Transformation: The role is action-heavy and requires intense physical scenes. He has to look like a hero ready for a big fight. This shows his willingness to train and change his look for a pure commercial film.
• VFX and Fantasy: He is acting more with special effects (VFX). This is harder than acting in a normal drama. It proves he can handle large-scale fantasy projects.

The Box Office Test and Future

Thamma was Ayushmann’s first big Diwali release. This time slot is usually for the biggest blockbusters. This shows the trust the producers had in his new image.

• A Mega Hit: The film quickly crossed the ₹100 Crore mark, becoming one of his biggest hits. This proves that the audience loves his new look and genre choice.
• New Doors Open: This success will open doors for more big-budget, mass-appeal roles. He is no longer just the ‘niche’ star. He is now a true Bollywood commercial hero.
• The Evolution: His evolution from a simple radio jockey to a thought-provoking actor, and now to a superhero-like figure in a blockbuster franchise, is inspiring for all new actors. It shows that constantly trying new roles is the key to a long and successful career.

The role in Thamma is a clear signal. Ayushmann Khurrana is ready to take on bigger, more commercial, and more challenging roles. This is just the beginning of his new era.

Ayushmann Khurrana successfully transitions from niche social comedies to a commercial horror-comedy franchise with the blockbuster film Thamma.