Ayushmann Khurrana-Rashmika Mandanna's Thama nears wrap; Nawazuddin Siddiqui to join for vampire twist soon

To bring Thama to life, Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna have immersed themselves in a supernatural realm filled with vampires, sinister folklore, and old tales for the past few months. The last stretch of filming for the next vampire comedy is now taking place in Ooty, directed by Aditya Sarpotdar (watch Kakuda).

Forests of Nilgiri and Doddabetta Peak as pivotal backdrops

As per a Mid-Day report, the film's final schedule commenced on April 28 and is anticipated to continue until May 25. Stunning Nilgiri forests in Tamil Nadu and the area surrounding Doddabetta Peak are the locations where they film pivotal scenes, including the climax.

The Ooty forests served as the setting for Ayushmann and Rashmika's scenes, which began on April 28. In and near Doddabetta Peak, they are presently filming. During this schedule, the filmmaker has been capturing key scenes from the protagonists' love story. According to a source who spoke with the tabloid, filming will begin with the climax and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's (watch Costao) history when he joins the unit in the third week of May.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui to join cast mid-May for crucial portions

Rumour has it that Nawazuddin, who portrays a vampire in the film, will be joining the cast around the middle of May. This final schedule includes his character's backstory as well as important parts from the film's climax.

Two timelines are intriguingly intercut throughout the film. Ayushmann plays the role of a historian researching the origins of vampires in Indian folklore in the current day. The second timeline takes place in the legendary and mysterious ancient city of Vijayanagar.

An unrequited love story with roots in the past connects the two timelines. They say that Ashwatthama, who was believed to be immortal, inspired the title. The source also added that the film blends folklore, legends, and mythology.

Filming timeline and shooting locations so far

Although Thama had a slender timeline that started in December 2024, the main shoot really got going in February. Since then, in March and April, the cast have shot in several locations around Mumbai and Delhi. After the Ooty leg is over, the makers just have two songs left to film.

Thama is slated to be released during Diwali 2025 and is expected to provide an intriguing mashup of comedy, horror, history, romance, and Indian mythology.