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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
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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 (as "Jana"), and has been likened to Nick Fury from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the "connective thread" across the films.[4]
Roohi, being promoted as a standalone sequel to Stree before its release, was initially planned as an entry in the Maddock Supernatural Universe (MSU) but was removed from the official canon due to negative critical reviews and its overall failure to contribute to the franchise's world-building efforts; Roohi featured no such contributions to the broader narrative. The primary creative conflict stemmed from Rajkummar Rao playing entirely different characters in Roohi and Stree, which complicated shared-universe continuity, alongside the fact that the film was directed by Hardik Mehta, not series architect Amar Kaushik, who did not consider it part of his specific vision. Kaushik cited as a reason for its exclusion "unless I feel that a double role is needed for Raj".[5] While no longer canon, it was included as an easter egg in a background TV scene in Munjya, establishing the film itself as a fictional movie within the MHCU timeline rather than a factual event.
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Films
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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 Karnataka urban legend of Nale Ba, which means "come tomorrow" in Kannada, adapted in the film as "O Stree Kal Aana" (oh woman, come tomorrow) in the film.[6][7] 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.[8]
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.[9] Bhediya was theatrically released on 25 November 2022, garnering positive reviews. The film grossed about ₹109 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.[10][11]
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.[12][13] The movie, initially titled Munjha, was being speculated to be a prequel to Stree[14] -- now Chhoti Stree.
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, typically believed to be the spirits of individuals who lost their heads in fatal train accidents; that capture humans and force them into slavery to help search for its missing head. Stree 2 was theatrically released on 15 August 2024. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed over ₹880+ crore at the box office against a production budget of ₹50–120 crore.[a][19]
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 'Betaal' 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 ₹210 crore against a ₹145 crore budget.
The film was initially titled Sunehri Sunehra in 2022, changing to Vampires of Vijaynagar in 2023, Thama in 2024, and finally Thamma in 2025.
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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". Principal photography is scheduled to begin in January 2026.[20] 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. [21]
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. The film will heavily focus on the hatred between Bhediya & 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.[22][23][24]
Chhoti Stree (2028)
The ninth installment in the franchise. "Chhoti Stree" is an upcoming animated film and a prequel to Stree. The film will be based on Shraddha Kapoor's character(Stree's daughter) from Stree and will reportedly be released 6 months before the release of Stree 3. The ending of the film will be a shift to the present, showing the prologue for Stree 3 -- going from animation to live-action at the end.[25]
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.[26][27] 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.[28][29]
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.[30]
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.[31]
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.[32]
Untitled Thamma Spin-Off (2030)
Dinesh Vijan has confirmed the development on a "spin-off on Thamma" and mentioned that it will be part of a larger cinematic universe, and will be released after the Mahayudh. The announcement was made during a promotional interview for Thamma.[33]
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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
Vicky, played by Rajkummar Rao, is a highly skilled ladies' tailor in the Stree film series who becomes the unexpected protagonist when he falls for a mysterious customer. His life in the superstition-filled town of Chanderi is quickly upended as he and his friends become entangled in supernatural phenomena involving the spirit Stree. Revealed to be a prophesied hero, Vicky's wit and unique skills help him navigate the humorous and horrific situations. He successfully confronts and "defeats" Stree in the first film, and later embraces his role as the "protector of Chanderi" when he faces Stree's malevolent nemesis, Sarkata, in the sequel, Stree 2.
She (Stree's Daughter); Unnamed Ghost
- Played by Shraddha Kapoor
She is the unnamed, enigmatic female protagonist featured alongside Vicky in the Stree films, acting as both a mysterious love interest and a powerful phantasm. While her true intentions remain ambiguous across the series, she is eventually revealed to be the daughter of the spirit Stree. A woman of few words, she never discloses her name to the group of friends; a significant moment occurs in Stree 2 when she finally whispers it to Vicky, though it remains a closely guarded secret from the audience and other characters. [Note: While a script leak reportedly identified her name as Gayatri, this has not been confirmed within the films themselves.].[37]
Bhaskar Sharma
- Played by Varun Dhawan
Bhaskar Sharma, portrayed by actor Varun Dhawan in the film Bhediya, is initially a self-centered road contractor sent to a remote area of Arunachal Pradesh to clear the forest for a highway project. His perspective drastically shifts after a mythical wolf, or "Yapum," bites him one night, leading him to gain werewolf powers, including super strength, enhanced senses, and the ability to communicate with animals. Initially seeking a cure, Bhaskar undergoes a significant character arc, transforming from an "eco-destroyer" into an empathetic defender of nature. He and his friends eventually fight against those who attempt to cut down the trees, with Bhaskar ultimately embracing his destiny as the new protector and guardian of the Ziro forest.
Dr. Anika Mittal
- Played by Kriti Sanon
- Dr. Anika Mittal, as portrayed by Kriti Sanon in the film Bhediya, is a quirky and mysterious veterinarian in the remote town of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh. Initially encountered by the protagonist Bhaskar (Varun Dhawan) after he is bitten by a werewolf, she provides medical assistance and becomes his love interest. Unbeknownst to the group, Anika is a "Yapum" (werewolf) and the secret guardian of the Ziro forest, having been bitten a century prior. Her goal is to protect nature from human threats, and she works to stop Bhaskar's deforestation project. Her character adds a significant twist to the narrative, as she ultimately sacrifices herself in the fight to protect the environment, passing the mantle of forest guardian on to Bhaskar.
Bittu Gokhle
- Played by Abhay Verma
Bittu is the main protagonist of the film Munjya and a young man who works at his mother Pammi's beauty salon in the village of Chetukwadi. Initially a somewhat timid character grappling with his mundane life, his world is turned upside down when the spirit of Munjya, a malevolent child ghost, begins haunting his family and obsessing over his best friend, Bela. It is revealed that Bittu is a direct descendant of Munjya's bloodline. He must overcome his fears and use this unexpected connection, leveraging a 'Z'-like symbol passed down through his family, to fight alongside Bela and their friends to defeat the spirit and break the long-standing curse.
Bela
- Played by Sharvari
Bela is the female lead of the film Munjya and a resident of the haunted village of Chetukwadi. She is the unwitting descendant, specifically the granddaughter, of the woman with whom the malevolent spirit Munjya was tragically obsessed with centuries ago. Upon Bela's return to the village, the spirit transfers his fixation to her, relentlessly haunting her to fulfill his desire to marry her. Bela is forced to confront this dangerous supernatural threat and ultimately fights alongside Bittu and others to defeat Munjya and break the centuries-old curse binding her family to the spirit.
Alok Goyal
- Played by Ayushmann Khurrana
- Alok Goyal, played by Ayushmann Khurrana in the film Thamma, is initially a meek and skeptical journalist from Delhi with an obsession for the supernatural who views most phenomena with disbelief. His search for a viral story leads him into a dense jungle in Arunachal Pradesh, where a near-death encounter with a bear leaves him stranded. He is rescued and nursed back to health by a mysterious woman named Tadaka, a 'Betaal' (vampire-like creature) who has forsworn human blood. After convincing her to return with him to Delhi, Alok's rational world is completely upended as he is resurrected after death and transforms into a Betaal himself, gaining a "beating heart" but losing his humanity. He ultimately embraces his new powers to fight the ancient villain Yakshasan and becomes the new "Thamma," or leader, of the Betaal sect, dedicated to protecting humanity alongside his love, Tadaka.
Tadaka
- Played by Rashmika Mandanna
- Tadaka, played by Rashmika Mandanna in the film Thamma, is a powerful, century-old 'Betaal' (a vampire-like creature). A fierce warrior deeply connected to nature, she is "Roshni ki pehli kiran" (the first ray of light) in a world of darkness, who uses screaming as her unique "superpower" because she has forgotten how to cry or express human emotions due to her long isolation. She rescues and falls in love with the urban journalist Alok Goyal, helping him navigate his own transformation into a Betaal. Their complex, "bloody love story" pits them against the ancient villain Yakshasan, with Tadaka ultimately becoming Alok's partner in protecting humanity and the environment.
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Crew
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Release and 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[15]) – ₹60 crore (DNA India[16] and The Financial Express[17]) – ₹105 crore (Bollywood Hungama[18])
References
External links
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