Mumbai, India – Bollywood superstar Kajol’s much-anticipated return to the big screen with the mythological horror film Maa is now set to premiere on an OTT platform. Netflix India announced on Thursday that the Vishal Furia directorial will be available for streaming on its platform from August 22.
The announcement was made on Netflix India’s official Instagram account, with a caption that read, “Jab rakshak ek maa ho to har bhakshak ki haar hogi” (When the mother turns protector, the destroyer will lose). The film, which marked Kajol’s first foray into the horror genre, was released theatrically on June 27 and received a mixed response from critics and audiences. While Kajol’s performance was widely praised, many reviews, including one from Hindustan Times, noted that the film “forgets to bring the horror.”
Produced by Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, and Kumar Mangat Pathak, the film is a spin-off of the 2024 film Shaitaan and is set in the same “Devil’s Universe.” It tells the story of Aambika (Kajol), a mother who, after a family tragedy, discovers a demonic curse that threatens her daughter’s life. The film also stars Indraneil Sengupta, Ronit Roy, and Kherin Sharma in key roles.
Despite its lukewarm box office performance, earning around ₹36.08 crore in India, the film’s move to OTT is expected to attract a wider audience. In a previous interview with Hindustan Times, Kajol had shared her excitement about the project, stating, “Everyone around me had the same reaction… ‘I can’t see you like this’. But that’s what horror is, and that’s why it will be particularly effective.”