Thamma Budget: Did Ayushmann Khurrana’s ₹10 Crore Fee Pay Off?

Mumbai, Sunday, 9 November 2025: The latest horror-comedy from the Maddock universe, Thamma, has been a massive hit. The film, which stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, has crossed the ₹150 crore mark worldwide. It is a big win for the Bollywood box office.

However, with success comes a financial audit. The film’s budget is reported to be high, around ₹140-145 crore.

This raises a very important question in the Indian film trade: Would Thamma have been cheaper, and still successful, if a newcomer or a lower-paid actor had been cast instead of a big star like Ayushmann Khurrana? Let’s look at the numbers behind the star power.

Breaking Down Ayushmann Khurrana’s Cost in Thamma

Ayushmann Khurrana is the main male star of the film. He is known for his unique script choices and his consistent track record of hits. For a big-budget, event film like Thamma, his salary forms a major chunk of the total cost.

• Reported Salary: Industry sources indicate that Ayushmann Khurrana was paid between ₹8 crore to ₹10 crore for his role as Alok Goyal, the protagonist.
• The Investment: This amount is his fixed payment. It is a cost the producers had to pay, regardless of the film’s final box office result.
• The Saving: If the makers had cast a fresh face or a less established actor, they could have saved this entire ₹8-10 crore. This would have brought the total film budget down by a decent amount.

The Star Power Trade-off: Risk vs. Guarantee

🎯 Saving ₹8-10 crore sounds like a good idea for the budget. But producers pay a high price for stars because the stars give them one crucial thing: The Opening Guarantee.

• The Big Opening: Thamma had a strong start at the box office, earning around ₹24 crore on its opening day. This was the biggest opening in Ayushmann Khurrana’s career. This strong start meant the movie was already safe from a flop on Day 1.
• The Brand Value: Ayushmann Khurrana is a reliable brand. His name ensures that the trailer gets millions of views. His interviews and promotions make sure the film is the most talked-about release. He brings the first-day audience to the theaters, which is the most difficult thing to do in today’s market.
• The Non-Theatrical Sales: His star presence allows the producers to sell the non-theatrical rights (OTT and Satellite) for a much higher price. These sales help the producers recover most of the film’s budget even before the release.

Scenario: A Film Without Ayushmann’s Star Power

Imagine the film was made with the same budget but with a new actor who charges only ₹50 lakhs.

• Budget Saving: The producer saves almost ₹9.5 crore on the star’s salary.
• The Risk: Without Ayushmann’s pull, the opening day might have dropped from ₹24 crore to maybe ₹10-12 crore.
• The Result: A slow start makes it very hard to catch up. A horror-comedy needs a massive opening weekend. If the film fails to create that initial buzz, it may not even recover its remaining budget. The small saving of ₹9.5 crore could lead to a massive loss of ₹50-60 crore in the long run.

Final Verdict: Investment, Not Expense

The film Thamma had a high budget, with a significant part spent on special effects (₹20 crore was reportedly spent on just one cameo scene). Ayushmann Khurrana’s fee is a small, justifiable part of the cost.

His presence gave the film a huge opening and guaranteed its financial safety. For producers, spending ₹8-10 crore on a star who can ensure a ₹24 crore opening is a smart business investment. It is not an unnecessary expense. His star power gave Thamma the momentum it needed to cross the ₹150 crore milestone and be called a huge hit.