Dinesh Vijan announces seven new horror-comedies after Stree 2, Thamma
Dinesh Vijan announces major expansion of Maddock Films’ horror-comedy slate, outlines the impact of technology on filmmaking.
Maddock Films founder Dinesh Vijan has announced the studio’s plans to produce seven new horror-comedy films over the next five years, marking a significant expansion of its supernatural franchise. The announcement comes after the commercial success of ‘Stree 2’ and the recent release of ‘Thamma’, which are part of Maddock’s growing horror-comedy universe. Vijan stressed the importance of strategic development, saying, “At an awards ceremony, Vijan said that cinematic universes are best developed when not spread out too much.”
The upcoming slate includes a variety of projects designed to balance franchise storytelling with character-driven cinema. One notable title is *Ikkis*, directed by Sriram Raghavan and based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. the film It includes Agastya Nanda and Dharmendra. Vijan described the project as a reflection of the studio’s broader vision, saying, “Vijan described it as a project that reflects the studio’s intention to balance franchise content with character-driven cinema.”
Vijan attributes Maddock’s success to its focus on specific narratives rather than a formulaic approach. “The sweet spot is three to four movies in a few years,” he explained, emphasizing that Maddock focuses on nurturing enduring franchises rather than reacting to short-term industry patterns.
Despite the poor performance of many big-ticket films recently, Maddock’s culturally rooted stories, ranging from comedy to folklore-inspired fantasy, have continued to resonate with audiences. Vijan attributed this consistency to choosing “bold, distinctive narratives” rather than formulaic storytelling and tapping into India’s cultural depth.
He said the real competition for cinema today is not other studios but smartphones, which have shifted consumers’ attention towards short-form video content. This shift has pushed Madoc towards a platform-neutral approach, where the IP can seamlessly transition across theatrical releases, OTT platforms and mobile formats.
Describing AI as a major disruptor, Vijan predicted that rapid advancements – particularly in photoreal imagery and cost-efficient VFX – will transform filmmaking economics within the next 18 to 24 months. While these innovations promise higher production quality and broader reach, they also mean that “every storyteller will be able to create”, increasing the battle for audience attention.
Maddock’s major upcoming releases include ‘Ikkis’, a war drama directed by Sriram Raghavan and inspired by the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. The film stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role, with Dharmendra playing an important role. Vijan called ‘Twenty-One’ one of Maddock’s most emotionally impactful projects, reflecting the studio’s intention to balance commercial franchises with high caliber, prestige cinema.
