Latest news with #AmarKaushik
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Horror comedies continue to enjoy a strong Run at the Indian box office
Picture Credit: Facebook Horror comedy films are popular, a genre that has spine-chilling thrills with rib-tickling humour. Once considered a niche or lowbrow genre, horror comedies have emerged as box office juggernauts nowadays. Films like 'Stree 2', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and 3' and 'Subham,' have raked in impressive earnings. A box office bonanza The year 2024 had some impressive Indian horror comedies, with films like 'Stree 2' and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' shattering box office records. According to a report by trade analyst Sacnilk, 'Stree 2', directed by Amar Kaushik, grossed over Rs 857 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Hindi-language film of 2024 and the ninth-highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. The film's success, including a staggering Rs 200-crore collection in just four days, shows how the genre has found its newfound dominance. Similarly, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', directed by Anees Bazmee, earned Rs 371–423.85 crore globally, securing its place as the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2024, despite competing with Rohit Shetty's 'Singham Again' during the Diwali season. Even the smaller flicks, take 'Subham,' for example, produced by Samantha Ruth Prabhu , made her production debut, and found favour with audiences. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Start Here - 2025 Top Trend Local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo Viewers have actually been raving about it online, calling it a solid horror comedy. The film has been praised by viewers as a good horror comedy with a crisp runtime and a message conveyed in a better way. Now, flip to the other side, there's also anticipation for 'The Raja Saab', a Telugu horror comedy featuring superstar Prabhas. There has been a 41,256 square feet of haunted mansion set built, and the cast includes names like Nidhhi Agerwal and Malavika Mohanan. The movie's dropping December 5, 2025. Why horror comedy resonates with Indian audiences Man, horror comedies have really hit a sweet spot with Indian audiences lately. Maybe a horror movie can be too much, too intense, but you toss in some laughs with some humour, and it sort of works like magic. As per a Times of India report, 'Stree 2' and 'Munjya' writer Niren Bhatt explains, "Horror has always been associated with disturbing your mind… But our films are family films, even five-year-old kids enjoy Munjya and Stree 2, and their success is the victory of good storytelling. " These movies aren't just about jump scares; they're about good old-fashioned storytelling, which is why families keep flocking to theatres. These movies don't just slap ghosts on the screen and call it a day. They dig into legends and urban myths. Take 'Stree 2' for example, straight outta Karnataka's "Nale Ba" legend, but with a modern twist and that whole "O Stree Kal Aana" vibe. 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' does its own thing too, pulling in Bengali folklore, with its haunted castle and mischievous priests. Director Anees Bazmee, in an interview with the BBC, emphasised his vision: "I wanted them to be on the edge of their seats but never truly scared, like a roller-coaster ride—happy on the ascent, with a thrill of fear on the descent. " The genre's community-viewing appeal further enhances its success. Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who starred in both 'Stree' and 'Stree 2', told The Times of India, "Horror comedies are the best community viewing experience… It has fantasy, which is the in-thing after 'Baahubali,' and by adding horror and comedy, that's three genres in one film." This trifecta of fantasy, horror, and comedy, combined with relatable small-town settings, has made these films a cultural phenomenon. From 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' to 'Stree' One can trace that back to 2007 when 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' hit the screens. Yeah, that one, Priyadarshan's take on the Malayalam original, 'Manichitrathazhu'. The film had some goofy laughs and horror moments, which got Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan to absolutely own their roles, becoming an instant classic. As 'Munjya' director Aditya Sarpotdar noted, as per a BBC report, "Bhool Bhulaiyaa was our first horror-comedy success that established a successful formula." However, it was 'Stree' in 2018 that truly refreshed the genre. Its Rs 129.90 crore box office haul proved that horror comedies could be both critically and commercially successful. The success of Stree made the way for the Maddock Supernatural Universe, which now includes 'Bhediya', 'Munjya,' and 'Stree 2', with upcoming films like 'Stree 3' and 'Thama' in the pipeline. 'Stree 2' features cameos from Bhediya's Varun Dhawan . Producer Dinesh Vijan confirmed that 'Stree 3', featuring Akshay Kumar as the antagonist Sarkata, is already in development. The upcoming 'The Raja Saab', directed by Maruthi, marks a significant departure for Prabhas, known for action epics like 'Baahubali' and 'Kalki 2898 AD'. Described as a "glamorous, entertaining, and colorful" horror comedy, the film will have supernatural elements, romance, and humour. The movie is all set to release at the end of the year. Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor-Starrer Stree 2 Continues To Impress At The Box-Office
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Exclusive: Ranveer Singh Joins Maddock Films' Expanding Horror Universe
New Delhi: Ranveer Singh is officially collaborating with Maddock Films, and NDTV has exclusively confirmed that he's coming on board for a project within the studio's much-talked-about horror-comedy universe. While the director is yet to be finalised, the project is being developed under the creative supervision of Amar Kaushik, who has played a key role in building Maddock's supernatural slate. Kaushik, a frequent collaborator with Maddock, first made waves with Stree the genre-bending horror-comedy starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor. The film's unprecedented success laid the groundwork for what would become Maddock's signature supernatural comedy universe. He followed it up with Bhediya, starring Varun Dhawan, further expanding the mythology that connects these quirky, eerie stories. Currently, Amar Kaushik is directing Mahavatar, a supernatural action film with Vicky Kaushal, and also serves as the creative overseer of the broader Maddock horror-comedy universe, curated by producer Dinesh Vijan. He's also involved in Thama, a horror-comedy love story featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, which is being directed by Munjya filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar and is slated for a Diwali 2025 release. With actors like Pankaj Tripathi, Akshay Kumar, Rashmika Mandanna, and Ayushmann Khurrana already part of Maddock's spooky-yet-hilarious world, Ranveer's addition signals a big leap for the franchise. While there was a recent speculation about him shooting for Maddock at Mehboob Studios under tight security, that was a different project. This confirmation now puts him firmly in the Maddock camp and fans can expect more updates on this exciting collaboration soon.
India Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Amar Kaushik to direct Lust Stories 3 with Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao: Report
Director Amar Kaushik, known for hit films like 'Stree' and 'Bhediya,' is set to direct short films. He will be joining filmmakers Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, and Shakun Batra in Netflix's upcoming project 'Lust Stories 3'.As per a report by News18 Showsha, this is the first time Amar will work outside his usual horror-comedy zone under Maddock Films. 'It's true that Vikramaditya, Kiran and Shakun will be directing three films for 'Lust Stories 3'. The fourth addition is Amar Kaushik. This will be the first time that he'll be stepping out of the Maddock Films' horror-comedy universe. While much isn't known about his short film, one may expect comical elements as that's what Amar's storytelling has become popular for. He's one of the busiest filmmakers today and the creators of Lust Stories 3 were extremely keen on having him on board," a source told the news Stories' is a collection of short films based on love, relationships, and intimacy. The series brings together different directors with unique storytelling styles. The first part released in 2018 had Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, and Dibakar Banerjee. The second part, which came out in 2023, had R Balki, Konkona Sensharma, Amit Sharma, and Sujoy Ghosh. Now, 'Lust Stories 3' is in the works and shooting is expected to begin this year. The cast has not been announced yet, but the previous parts featured some big Bollywood Amar Kaushik is busy with several upcoming films. He is directing 'Thama', a vampire horror-comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. He is also working on the sequels 'Bhediya 2' and 'Stree 3.' While the Varun Dhawan-starrer is set to release on August 14, 2026, the Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao's film is expected to hit cinemas on August 13, Watch
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Lust Stories 3: Amar Kaushik To Join Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, And Shakun Batra For The Upcoming Anthology
New Delhi: The first season of Lust Stories was released on Netflix in 2018. It was a conversation starter for how intimacy was being represented through cinema, and it was well-received by the masses. It sheds light on the various perspectives involved in male and female desires—across race, gender, age, and social-economic strata. The first Lust Stories Anthology film in 2018, had films made by directors Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, and Dibakar Banerjee. Lust Stories 2 was released in 2023 and had R Balki, Konkona Sen Sharma, Amit Ravindernath Sharma, and Sujoy Ghosh on board. News18 Showsha has exclusively learnt that Lust Stories 3 is also currently in the works, and the shoot for the same is set to begin soon. Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, and Shakun Batra have reportedly already been roped in, and now the last director to join the gang is Amar Kaushik. Amar Kaushik who has been basking in the humongous success of Stree 3, is currently busy producing his next horror-comedy. A close source told News18 Showsha, "It's true that Vikramaditya, Kiran, and Shakun will be directing three films for Lust Stories 3. The fourth addition is Amar Kaushik. This will be the first time that he'll be stepping out of the Maddock Films' horror-comedy universe. While much isn't known about his short film, one may expect comical elements as that's what Amar's storytelling has become popular for. He's one of the busiest filmmakers today and the creators of Lust Stories 3 were extremely keen on having him onboard." On the work front, Amar Kaushik has a packed-up schedule as he's busy with Thama, led by Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. He also has Bhediya 2 and Stree 3 in the lineup.
News18
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Amar Kaushik Joins Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra To Helm Lust Stories 3?
Last Updated: At present, Amar Kaushik is busy with a horror-comedy that he's producing. He will begin filming his segment for Lust Stories 3 very soon. When the first season of Lust Stories dropped on Netflix in 2018, it turned out to be a disruptor, for all good reasons. Intimacy almost wasn't a hush-hush topic anymore as mainstream actors shed off their inhibitions and portrayed male and female desires across demographics, age, gender, marital structures and socio-economic stratum. Kiara Advani's much-talked-about self-pleasuring sequence in Karan Johar's segment broke barriers, defied norms and proved to be a game-changing move for her career. What Lust Stories also grabbed attention for was bringing together a bunch of directors from different schools of cinema under one roof. The first season saw Karan, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee helming short stories. The second season that released in 2023 had R Balki, Konkona Sensharma, Amit Sharma and Sujoy Ghosh exploring themes of love, violence and relationships interlaced with intimacy and sex. The third season of Lust Stories is also in the works and as per reports, the shoot is all set to begin this year. Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao and Shakun Batra have reportedly been roped in to direct three shorts. And now, News18 Showsha has an exclusive update on the fourth filmmaker, who will be joining the trio. This is a director who's currently much sought-after and has delivered the biggest Bollywood hit of 2024 that grossed more than Rs 800 crore at the worldwide box office. It is none other than Amar Kaushik. At present, he's busy with a horror-comedy that he's producing. He will begin filming his segment for Lust Stories 3 very soon. A well-placed source tells us, 'It's true that Vikramaditya, Kiran and Shakun will be directing three films for Lust Stories 3. The fourth addition is Amar Kaushik. This will be the first time that he'll be stepping out of the Maddock Films' horror-comedy universe. While much isn't known about his short film, one may expect comical elements as that's what Amar's storytelling has become popular for. He's one of the busiest filmmakers today and the creators of Lust Stories 3 were extremely keen on having him onboard." Amar is currently busy with Thama, a vampire horror-comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. Additionally, he'll also be directing the sequel to Bhediya and the third part in the Stree franchise. While Bhediya 2 is set for a release on August 14, 2026, Stree 3 will hit the screens a year later on August 13, 2027. As for Lust Stories 3, details about the cast are still kept under wraps but one can expect some of the most prominent names of Bollywood to assemble for the next instalment of the franchise. First Published:
