Mumbai, 25 Oct

Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, who launched the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) with his 2018 hit ‘Stree’, said the true victory for a filmmaker is keeping viewers engaged throughout a movie.

Kaushik, producer of the franchise's latest entry ‘Thamma’ alongside Dinesh Vijan, said he values criticism as long as it is not personal. "I listen to the critics… But sometimes when they say something personal, I feel bad. We are also learning," he told PTI.

The Ayushmann Khurrana-Rashmika Mandanna starrer has received mixed reviews, with some calling it the weakest in the MHCU, which includes titles like ‘Stree’, ‘Stree 2’, ‘Bhediya’, and ‘Munjya’. Kaushik said, "If you don’t take out your mobile for 2-2.5 hours, it’s a victory."

Quoting Kabir, he added, "You will not move forward if you don’t keep your critics close." Kaushik noted that while some critics consider ‘Thamma’ weaker than previous films, others rank it above ‘Stree 2’.

He recalled a similar response after ‘Bhediya’ (2022), which is now regarded as one of the best in the franchise. While box office numbers matter to producers, Kaushik prioritises story, character development, and audience engagement over collections. ‘Thamma’ has so far collected Rs 80 crore.

The film, directed by Aditya Sapotdar, follows a man who transforms into a Betaal-like creature after encountering a mysterious woman, Tadaka. Kaushik said the horror-comedy franchise adapted its approach for ‘Thamma’, focusing on romance alongside the genre’s usual humor.

Discussing casting, he said Ayushmann joined the MHCU as a natural fit, having worked with Kaushik on ‘Bala’ (2019), while Rashmika was approached by Dino Vijan. The film also stars Paresh Rawal as Ayushmann’s father and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the antagonist Yaskshasan.

Kaushik shared that Rawal, impressed by ‘Stree 2’, agreed immediately to join, and Nawazuddin, whom he had known from his early work on ‘Aamir’, was always on his mind for the role.

Looking ahead, the MHCU is set to expand with upcoming films including ‘Shakti Shalini’, ‘Bhediya 2’, ‘Chamunda’, ‘Stree 3’, and ‘Maha Munjya’, culminating in two larger projects, ‘Pehla Mahayudh’ and ‘Doosara Mahayudh’.