Ayushmann Khurrana on Thamma: From Tears over Saiyaara to 100-Crore Club Triumph:

Indian cinema star Ayushmann Khurrana is celebrating a special moment. With his latest release Thamma quickly crossing the Rs 100-crore mark in India, he opened up about the emotional impact of another film, Saiyaara, his admiration for its lead actress Aneet Padda, and what lies ahead in the horror-comedy universe of Maddock Films. Moved by Saiyaara and cheering for Aneet Padda While talking to the media, Ayushmann admitted that Saiyaara deeply moved him. “I loved it, what a beautiful film,” he said. He revealed how he found himself in tears, having butterflies in the first half and being “full-on howling” during the climax. He also mentioned that Aneet Padda – who starred in Saiyaara – will soon be joining the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. He recalled how both of them hail from small cities in Punjab, and how he gave her a shout-out on Instagram. He shared that she was “very excited” when she texted him from Dinesh Vijan’s office after watching the trailer of Thamma, writing, “I’m so excited for Thamma”. He added how he looks forward to crossing paths with her in the universe. Thamma’s resonance with younger audiences Thamma isn’t just another box-office success for Ayushmann — it’s the one that touched a younger segment. He remarked that this film is the first of his to be loved by kids. “I went to a screening recently and 40% of the crowd was Gen Alpha,” he shared. He explained that while many of his prior films were slightly cerebral, layered and aimed at a mature audience, Thamma is a simpler, broad-strokes story with VFX and special effects crafted for children, making it very child-friendly. “I’m glad I finally did something for them. It’s my kids’ favourite film by far,” he said. Praise for Nawazuddin Siddiqui and an on-set mishap Reflecting on his co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui who plays the antagonist in Thamma, Ayushmann called him a seasoned actor, comparing him to “the Joker to my Batman”. He appreciated the strong, meaty villain role and said Nawazuddin was the only choice for it. He also shared a humorous incident: while shooting, one of his punches to Nawazuddin accidentally connected, breaking a fake fang (not a real tooth!) of the actor. “I sent him flowers,” he laughed, adding that his wife teased him: “You don’t send me flowers that often, but you send them to Nawaz!” Thankfully, Nawazuddin forgave him. Box-office milestone and festive release joy Thamma released during the festive season and the timing meant a lot to Ayushmann. He said it was surreal: in over 10 years in the industry, he never had a Diwali release — a season when families traditionally go to theatres. He recalled how in his childhood, his family always watched superstar films on Diwali, and this time he took his own family to see Thamma. He noted that because of the festival release and strong family turnout, the film gave him the biggest opening of his career. Box-office trackers show Thamma crossed the Rs 100-crore domestic net mark in eight days. Looking ahead, Ayushmann will begin shooting from 1 November for an upcoming family entertainer by legendary filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya. He described Barjatya’s strength in understanding Indian culture, family dynamics and reaching even the smallest towns like Prayagraj and Banaras. He said, “I’m very fortunate to be working with him.” In a twist, Ayushmann said he will play “the new Prem” in the film — a reference to the iconic romantic hero of Barjatya’s films. “I’m the new Prem and the perfect green flag in the film, so I’m very excited,” he smiled. From getting emotional at Saiyaara to celebrating Thamma’s success, Ayushmann Khurrana continues to show the versatility that has made him one of India’s most relatable and bankable actors.

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