'Thamma' director reacts to criticism of having three item songs in the film, addresses speculations of Shah Rukh Khan joining the horror comedy universe

'Thamma' which is the latest offering from Dinesh Vijan's horror comedy universe after 'Munjya', 'Bhediya' and 'Stree 2' has got a decent box office response. The film is now nearing Rs 130 crore in India. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, it got mixed reviews, however, people have largely spoken about the fact that 'Thamma' had three item numbers. In a recent interview, director Aditya Sarpotdar has addressed this criticism. He also addressed speculations about Shah Rukh Khan joining the universe.While talking about having three item numbers, Aditya told Screen, "You also can’t deny the fact that this is the same audience who has watched my earlier films, say Munjya, where Taras became a massive hit, right? It’s the same audience who loved Aaj Ki Raat, right? Nobody had a problem there. It’s just that now, because you see it happening a lot more, you feel it’s a problem. And I say, okay, you can have an opinion and you don’t like it. I’ll take it in my stride. But maybe what’s also happening is: in a vampire film, you need a certain sense of glitz, glamour, and madness. Here, we had the chance to do that.” He added, "In Munjya, if I had put three item numbers, there was no chance to do that, the world is different. But here, you have a sense of a world that is intriguing, marvellous, glamorous, a little crazy, in the sense of what vampires could be. Maybe that’s how we went ahead thinking about it.”Aditya expressed that despite the criticism, he is happy that people turned out to watch the film. "What’s happened is that even before the film released, it got branded as an ‘item number film’, and that, I think, is a very typical mindset. Because you have accepted the same songs wholeheartedly and enjoyed them earlier. Now suddenly you have a problem with them. It’s a little odd. But okay, I understand. And I am glad that the same people also came and watched the film. People have seen the film. So as long as you see the film, that’s the point.”Opening up on rumours of SRK joining this universe, Aditya said, "If Shah Rukh Khan is part of this universe, I think so much can be done, right? What could he become, man? It would be crazy, right? To have Shah Rukh! Definitely he would have a stand-alone film. But what kind of film, and who would he be?” When asked if Shah Rukh can also be the ultimate villain, Aditya said, "No, no, no. He can’t be the ultimate villain. Shah Rukh Khan has done great villain roles, we’re all aware of Darr and Ram Jaane and all of that. But now he is the hero. He is the superstar. He has to do something that brings everyone together. He can be more of a Captain America. Or, no, actually, more like Iron Man rather than a Thanos? He has to be the one wearing the glove and doing that click at the very end. That’s what a superstar does. But I do feel that he has done Ra.One, he has done these superhero films also in his own way and his own space, which he has done really well. And to top that, then you need something crazier, bigger, more scaled up, and something you’ve never thought of.”