Would Thamma Have Been Cheaper Without Rashmika Mandanna?

Sunday, 09 November 2025: The film Thamma hit the screens a few weeks ago. It is a big-budget horror-comedy movie. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. It is the latest movie in the famous Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. This film has crossed the ₹150 crore mark worldwide. It is a big success for the production house.

However, the film’s huge budget has raised a big question. Could the producers have saved a lot of money without casting a top star like Rashmika Mandanna? This is the classic debate between star power and content cost. Let’s do the box office math!

The Big Budget of Thamma

Thamma is one of the most expensive films in this horror-comedy series. Industry reports suggest the total cost, including production and promotions, is around ₹145 crore.

This massive budget is due to a few main factors:

1. High-Quality VFX: The film has vampires, werewolves, and many fantasy elements. The makers spent a lot of money on special effects (VFX) from international companies. One fight scene alone reportedly cost ₹20 crore.

2. Ensemble Cast: The movie has many big names. It includes Ayushmann Khurrana, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal, and a cameo by Varun Dhawan.
3. Star Salaries: The fees paid to the lead actors form a very big part of the cost.

Rashmika Mandanna’s Fee: A Worthy Expense?

💰 Rashmika Mandanna is the “National Crush.” She has a huge fan base not just in the South, but also across North India. This pan-India appeal is a very valuable asset for any film.

• Her Reported Salary: According to various media reports, Rashmika Mandanna charged between ₹5 crore and ₹7 crore for her role in Thamma.
• The Lead Male Star: For comparison, her co-star Ayushmann Khurrana reportedly earned a higher fee, between ₹8 crore and ₹10 crore.

The total cost of Rashmika Mandanna’s salary is a small percentage of the total budget of ₹145 crore. If the makers had taken a new actress, they might have saved ₹5-7 crore. But would that saving have been worth the risk?

The Trade-Off: Saving Money vs. Gaining Footfalls

A film’s success depends on getting a strong opening day collection. This is where a star’s power comes into play.

• The Opening Day Impact: Thamma took a very strong start at the box office, earning over ₹24 crore on its opening day. This was Ayushmann Khurrana’s biggest-ever opening.
• Rashmika’s Draw: Rashmika Mandanna’s name attracts the audience from the South and also from the North, where she is now a big name after hits like Pushpa and Animal. Her presence guaranteed a wider and more enthusiastic opening for the film.

Scenario 1: With Rashmika, the movie spends ₹5-7 crore more on her salary. It gets a ₹24 crore opening and crosses ₹150 crore worldwide. The film becomes a financial success.

Scenario 2: Without Rashmika, the movie saves ₹5-7 crore on a new actress’s salary. Without her pan-India appeal, the opening day collection might have been much lower, perhaps only ₹15-18 crore. This weaker start would make it much harder for the film to reach the ‘Hit’ status.

Latest BoxOffice News

The Verdict: The Price of Assurance

Producers pay a big fee to big stars for a simple reason: Guarantee.

The stars guarantee a strong opening. They create a big buzz. This initial business is very important. It covers the huge expenses quickly.

In the case of Thamma, the additional ₹5-7 crore paid to Rashmika Mandanna bought them security. Her star power helped the film get a massive opening that put it on the path to success. The small saving of ₹5-7 crore would not have made a huge difference to the ₹145 crore budget. But losing the massive opening collection could have made the film a flop.

The cost of star power is high, but the cost of a flop film is much, much higher. For Thamma, Rashmika Mandanna’s presence was a smart investment.