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Maddock Horror Comedy Universe
Shared fictional universe From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU)[1] is an Indian shared universe consisting of Hindi-language supernatural comedy horror films created and produced by Maddock Films. All films in this universe are based on Indian folklore. The first installment, Stree, was released as a standalone film. The universe-building began with Bhediya, in which characters from Stree appeared. This was followed by Munjya, where characters from Bhediya and Stree appeared. Stree 2 continued by featuring characters from Bhediya. Thamma features cameos from Bhediya, Stree, Munjya, and Stree 2, making Thamma the central link connecting all five films. [2]
The universe was initially titled the Maddock Supernatural Universe, before the official MHCU lineup reveal in January 2025. This change in title was further confirmed with a logo reveal in September 2025, and also by Dinesh Vijan during a Thamma team Interview in October 2025.
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Overview
The idea for a shared universe occurred to Dinesh Vijan from a conversation with American film producer Charles Roven in 2012, when Roven told him, "when you're making films, keep them in a box".[3] Abhishek Banerjee is the only actor to have appeared in every film in the universe, and has been likened to Nick Fury from the Marvel Cinematic Universe for being the "connective thread" across the films.[4]
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Films
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| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
Stree (2018)
Stree: Mard ko Dard hoga, the first installment of the franchise is directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Raj & DK. It stars Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, alongside Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee. The plot is inspired by the urban legend Nale Ba, which means "come tomorrow" in Kannada, adapted in the film as "O Stree Kal Aana" (oh woman, come tomorrow) in the film.[5][6] Stree was theatrically released worldwide on 31 August 2018 and received positive reviews. The film grossed over ₹180 crore at the box office against a budget of ₹23–25 crore, becoming a box-office success. The film received ten nominations at the 64th Filmfare Awards and won Best Debut Director for Kaushik.[7]
Bhediya (2022)
Bhediya: Jungle mein Kaand, the second installment was directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba. The film stars Varun Dhawan alongside Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Banerjee, Deepak Dobriyal and Paalin Kabak. The plot is inspired by an Arunachal Pradesh legend about a shape-shifting werewolf 'Yapum' who kills to protect the jungle. Additionally, characters from Stree appeared in the film, including cameo appearances by Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Aparshakti Khurana. Abhishek Banerjee reprises his role as Jana (Janardan), Bhaskar's cousin.[8] Bhediya was theatrically released on 25 November 2022, garnering positive reviews. The film grossed about ₹90 crore against a production budget of approximately ₹60 crore at the box office. It received 13 nominations at the 68th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film (Critics), Best Actor (Critics) and Best Special Effects.[9][10]
Munjya (2024)
Munjya, the third installment was directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik. The film stars Sharvari, Abhay Verma, Sathyaraj and Mona Singh. The titular character was created using CGI. Additionally, characters from Bhediya made cameo appearances in the film, including Varun Dhawan and Abhishek Banerjee. The film is based on folklore from Konkan that depicts a mischievous spirit named Munjya from Marathi tradition, which haunts peepal trees or wells. This spirit arises when a man dies unmarried between his thread ceremony and marriage ritual and often causes disturbances to fulfil his unfulfilled desires. Munjya was theatrically released on 7 June 2024, garnering mixed reviews. The film grossed over ₹132 crore worldwide against a production budget of ₹30 crore and became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2024.[11][12]
Stree 2 (2024)
Stree 2: Sarkate ka Aatank, the fourth installment and direct sequel to Stree was directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Jyoti Deshpande. The film stars Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana. The story follows the events after Stree, where the small town of Chanderi is haunted by a beheaded creature, "Sarkata", who is abducting women. It is based on the Bengali legend of Skondhokata which is of a headless ghost that makes good samaritans its slaves in the quest for searching its head. Stree 2 was theatrically released on 15 August 2024. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed over ₹874.8 crore at the box office against a production budget of ₹50–120 crore.[a][17]
Thamma (2025)
Thamma, the fifth installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, was directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal, the film follows a journalist transformed into a vampiric 'Betal' after a bear attack, who must battle ancient evil and navigate a forbidden romance. The film blends Hindu mythology with a modern romantic-supernatural theme and was theatrically released on October 21, 2025, receiving mixed-to-positive reviews and grossing an estimated ₹168.75 crore(and still counting) against a ₹145 crore budget.
The film was initially titled Sunehri Sunehra in 2022, changing to Vampires of Vijaynagar in 2023, and finally Thamma in 2024.
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Upcoming films
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Shakti Shalini (2026)
The sixth installment in the franchise. It will star Aneet Padda in a titular role as Shakti Shalini, called "the mother of all". In January 2025, it was announced that Kiara Advani would enter the MHCU with the project Shakti Shalini. However, Advani opted out due to focus on her newborn daughter and was later replaced by Padda in September 2025. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in January 2026.[18] The film is set to release on 24 December 2026, on Christmas Eve.
Chamunda (2027)
The seventh installment in the franchise. It will star Alia Bhatt in a titular role as Chamunda with Akshay Kumar as the main antagonist, reprising his role from his appearance as last living descendant of Chandrabhan (popular as 'Sarkata') in Stree 2. The film is set to release in 2027. [19]
Bhediya 2 (2028)
The eighth installment and a sequel to Bhediya, titled Bhediya 2, is in the pipeline, with Amar Kaushik returning as the director and Varun Dhawan reprising his role. Kriti Sanon might reprise her role as Dr. Anika from Bhediya, despite her character's "supposed" death in the film. The film will heavily focus on the hatred of Bhediya and Betaal as hinted in Thamma, with the slogan "THE HUNT BEGINS...". While the project has been officially announced, the makers are still in the pre-production phase but principal photography is expected to start soon. The film was set to release in 2026, however it got delayed until 2028, following the delay in Shakti Shalini. The film is set to release in 2028, after the release of Chamunda.[20][21][22]
Chhoti Stree (2028)
The ninth installment in the franchise. "Chhoti Stree" is an upcoming animated film inspired by Shraddha Kapoor's hit horror-comedy film Stree. The film will be based on the character from Stree and will reportedly be released 6 months before the release of Stree 3.
Stree 3 (2028)
The tenth installment in the franchise and a sequel to Stree 2. The film will feature Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana reprising their roles with Akshay Kumar as the main antagonist, reprising his role from his appearance as last living descendant of Chandrabhan (popular as 'Sarkata') in Stree 2. He had an unknown hatred against his own family which will be known in Stree 3. Producer Dinesh Vijan confirmed that Stree 3 has already been written.[23][24] Director Amar Kaushik mentioned it would take three years to produce. The film is set to release on 13 August 2028, two days before Independence Day.[25][26]
Maha Munjya (2029)
The eleventh installment in the franchise and a sequel to Munjya. Abhay Verma and Sharvari will be reprising their roles as Bittu and Bela respectively. The film is set to release in 2029.[27]
Pehla Mahayudh (2029)
The twelfth installment in the franchise, Pehla Mahayudh, will serve as the first part of the two-part finale for the current phase of the franchise. The story will continue and conclude in the twelfth installment, titled Doosara Mahayudh. Pehla Mahayudh will feature characters from all previous films in the franchise. The film is set to release on 10 August 2029, five days before Independence Day. Makers Dinesh Vijan, Jyoti Deshpande and director Amar Kaushik confirmed that Akshay Kumar will lead both the parts as Chandravanshi (descendant of Chanderi Chief Chandrabhan Sarkata) with several stars from previous installments will be pitted against him.[28]
Doosara Mahayudh (2029)
The thirteenth installment in the franchise, Doosara Mahayudh, will serve as the conclusion to the two-part finale of the current phase of the franchise. Picking up directly from the events of Pehla Mahayudh, the film will bring together characters from all previous installments for a climactic showdown. The film is set to release on 6 November 2029, on the occasion of Diwali.[29]
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Recurring characters
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This table lists the characters connected across the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe.
Main characters
Vicky
- Played by: Rajkummar Rao
The protagonist of the Stree films. Vicky is a gifted ladies tailor who falls for a mysterious customer. The ensuing events lead to Vicky and his friends to get entangled in supernatural phenomenon. Revealed to be a prophesied hero, Vicky defeats Stree in the first film, and fights Stree's nemesis, Sarkata, in the sequel.
She/Gayatri
- Played by Shraddha Kapoor
She is a protagonist, phantasm and Stree's daughter, featuring alongside Vicky in the Stree films. She doesn't reveal her name to anyone, until Stree 2 in which she whispers her name to Vicky, but it remains a mystery to the rest of their friends (and the audience). A script leak tells her name to be Gayatri, but not yet revealed in films.[31]
Bhaskar Sharma
- Played by Varun Dhawan
He's a Road contractor who is sent to Arunachal Pradesh. One night, he is bitten by a Werewolf and gains super strength powers the next day. He alongside with the others fights people who attempt to cut down the trees. He becomes the protector of forest.
Dr. Anika Mittal
- Played by Kriti Sanon
Bela
- Played by Sharvari
The female lead of Munjya films. She also belongs to the village Chetukwadi. She is the granddaughter of lady with whom Munjya was in love with. Later Munjya got obsessed with her. She fought alongside Bittu and others to defeat Munjya.
Bittu Gokhle
- Played by Abhay Verma
The main protagonist of Munjya film. Bittu works at his mother Pammi's beauty salon. He's revealed to be a member of munjya's bloodline, and defeats Munjya using a 'Z' like symbol. He is in love with his bestfriend Bela.
Alok Goyal
- Played by Ayushmann Khurrana
Tadaka
- Played by Rashmika Mandanna
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Crew
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Release & Reception
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Box office performance
Critical reception
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Notes
- Stree 2's reported budget varies between ₹50 crore (India Today[13]) – ₹60 crore (DNA India[14] and The Financial Express[15]) – ₹105 crore (Bollywood Hungama[16])
References
External links
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