‘Tumbbad’ director Rahi Anil Barve’s second film ‘Mayasabha’ to hit theatres on January 16

Filmmaker Rahi Anil Barve is finally returning with his eagerly anticipated second movie, Mayasabha: The Hall Of Illusion, following the cult success of his 2018 horror-fantasy thriller Tumbbad.

Mayasabha will open in cinemas on January 16, 2026, according to a November 26 announcement by the film's producers.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh also shared the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “'Tumbbad' Director's Second Film Is 'Mayasabha' – 16 Jan 2026 Release... The writer-director of #Tumbbad,

#RahiAnilBarve, returns with his second directorial venture, #Mayasabha: The Hall Of Illusion.”

“The film features #JaavedJaaferi in a never-seen-before avatar… Produced by Girish Patel and Ankoor J Singh... Co-produced by Shamrao Bhagwan Yadav, Chanda Yadav, Kewal Handa, and Manish Handa,” the post read.

'TUMBBAD' DIRECTOR'S SECOND FILM IS 'MAYASABHA' – 16 JAN 2026 RELEASE... The writer-director of #Tumbbad, #RahiAnilBarve, returns with his second directorial venture, #Mayasabha: The Hall Of Illusion.

The film features #JaavedJaaferi in a never-seen-before avatar.

????:… pic.twitter.com/6sejljynEy

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) December 1, 2025

The announcement was accompanied by the unveiling of a dark and compelling motion teaser, shared by Rahi on X.

In his statement, Rahi wrote: “The clay says to the potter, why do you trample me… a day will come – I will trample you. In the abandoned theatre’s abyss… the long-buried gold waits to be claimed. The key now exists only in the fractured mind of a smoke-demon.”

माटी कहे कुम्हार से, तू क्या रौंदे मोहे…
एक दिन ऐसा आएगा — मैं रौंदूँगी तोहे। In the abandoned theatre’s abyss… the long-buried gold waits to be claimed.
The key exists now only in the fractured mind of a smoke-demon. How far will you go into the abyss that made him? pic.twitter.com/DA92YqH8hY

— rahi anil barve (@BarveRahi) November 26, 2025

Veteran actor Jaaved Jaaferi is in the lead role, who drastically transformed for the character. His face is partially hidden by a golden mask in the motion poster that was released earlier this month, giving him a long, silver-streaked hairstyle that many fans found nearly unrecognisable.

“A decade ago, we unleashed a madness — an experiment too strange, unspeakable even for those who dare to fathom the abyss. The curse is finally broken. The mysterious world of Parmeshwar Khanna (Jaaved Jaaferi) will finally see the light. Enjoy your gold hunt,” Rahi wrote on X.

A decade ago, we unleashed a madness — an experiment too strange, unspeakable even for those who dare to fathom the abyss. The curse is finally broken. The mysterious world of Parmeshwar Khanna will finally see the light. Enjoy your gold hunt.#Mayasabha #TheHallOfIllusion pic.twitter.com/HBtpD5mOco

— rahi anil barve (@BarveRahi) November 13, 2025

Mayasabha is supposed to be a psychological thriller where symbolism meets suspense. The narrative apparently focuses on a failed film mogul who lives in solitude in his rotting theatre together with his unstable adolescent son, played by Mohammad Samad, who earlier stunned the audience in Tumbbad.

The plot takes an unexpected dark turn when two strangers show up at the theatre, and a deadly game of cat and mouse full of secrets and paranoia ensues. Director Rahi Anil Barve has hinted at themes of obsession, trauma and the evil side of human nature.

After over 10 years of research, development, and rebuilding, Barve returns to filmmaking with MayaSabha. It is produced by Zirkon Films, with producers Girish Patel and Ankoor J Singh, and co-produced by Chanda Shamrao Yadav, Shamrao Bhagwan Yadav, Kewal Handa, and Manish Handa.

For Jaaferi, Mayasabha is more than just another picture – he’s termed this “the toughest” and “most powerful, physically and emotionally challenging” role of his four-decade career. He characterised the script as “the best I have read,” and said working with Barve on this project has been “an absolute adventure.”

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