Maddock Films

Maddock Films was launched by Dinesh Vijan, a former director and producer who had earlier worked on films like Being Cyrus (2005) and Love Aaj Kal (2009). The company's first release was the romantic comedy Luka Chuppi (2019), but its breakthrough came with the horror-comedy Stree (2018), directed by Amar Kaushik. The film, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, became a sleeper hit and established Maddock's signature style of blending social satire with supernatural tropes.

Maddock Films is best known for creating the Maddock Supernatural Universe (MSU), a shared cinematic universe of horror-comedy films. The universe began with Stree and expanded with Bhediya (2022), Stree 2 (2024), and Munjya (2024). These films are interconnected through post-credit scenes and recurring characters, a rarity in Indian cinema. The universe has grossed over ₹2000 crore worldwide, making it one of the most profitable franchises in Bollywood.¹

Beyond horror-comedy, Maddock has produced a diverse slate of films, including the action thriller Mardaani 2 (2019), the romantic drama October (2018), and the crime comedy Angrezi Medium (2020). The company has also ventured into web series, producing Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo (2023) for streaming platforms. Maddock's willingness to back unconventional scripts, such as the time-loop comedy Looop Lapeta (2022), has earned it a reputation for creative risk-taking.²

Maddock Films has a lesser-known history of developing projects that were shelved or transformed. For instance, the initial idea for Stree was based on a real urban legend from Karnataka about a ghost named Nale Ba, and the film's script went through multiple rewrites before finding its comedic tone. Additionally, the company has a small but notable foray into international co-productions, such as the Indo-Canadian film Kissed by Lightning (2009), which predates its official founding. Maddock also runs a talent incubation program for young writers and directors, though it remains under the radar.

Horror-comedy

A film genre that blends elements of horror and comedy, often using supernatural themes for humorous effect.

Shared universe

A fictional universe where multiple films or series share common elements, characters, or timelines.