After years of anticipation, Mayasabha — the second film from Rahi Anil Barve, the acclaimed writer-director of Tumbbad — is officially set to hit cinemas on 30 January 2026. The psychological thriller, subtitled The Hall of Illusion, has been gaining buzz with its eerie teaser and the announcement of its cast led by veteran actor Jaaved Jaaferi.
Release Schedule & Festival Screenings
Mayasabha is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in India on 30 January 2026, distributed by Pickle Entertainment and UFO Moviez, following its inclusion in film festival lineups earlier in the month — including a screening at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) 2026.
Story & Themes: A Hall of Illusion
The film is described as a psychological thriller that blurs the line between perception and reality. In it, Jaaved Jaaferi plays Parmeshwar Khanna — a once-successful film producer now living a reclusive life inside a crumbling theatre. When he and his son encounter mysterious strangers, what begins as a search for hidden treasure quickly evolves into a symbolic journey that tests greed, memory and trust.
Barve, known for his atmospheric and symbolically rich storytelling in Tumbbad, has steered Mayasabha toward an unsettling narrative landscape where illusion and human desire collide, promising a slow-burn, thought-provoking cinematic experience rather than conventional genre thrills.
Cast & Characters
Alongside Jaaved Jaaferi, the film stars:
- Mohammad Samad
- Veena Jamkar
- Deepak Damle
These performances are expected to deepen the film’s exploration of psychological tension, familial bonds and moral ambiguity.
Jaaved Jaaferi has publicly described the role as one of the most challenging of his four-decade career, involving significant physical transformation and an emotionally demanding character arc that departs from his more familiar comic persona.
Teaser & Marketing
The official teaser for Mayasabha was released in mid-January 2026, introducing audiences to the film’s haunting tone and cryptic imagery. Visually, it emphasizes Barve’s signature use of symbolism and psychological immersion — a style that won acclaim with Tumbbad and carries expectations for this release.
Early promotional materials — including motion posters released in November 2025 — already generated significant interest, particularly around Jaaferi’s dramatic transformation and the film’s eerie aesthetic.
Why Mayasabha Is Anticipated
Barve has slowly carved a reputation as a filmmaker who prioritizes atmosphere, symbolism and thematic depth over typical commercial storytelling — an approach that makes his projects highly anticipated among cinephiles. After Tumbbad’s long journey from production to its eventual cult status, Mayasabha represents a return to Barve’s trademark blend of dark fantasy and psychological introspection, this time in a more grounded, intimate setting.
Final Take
With its 30 January 2026 theatrical release, Mayasabha marks Rahi Anil Barve’s most visible project since Tumbbad. Anchored by Jaaved Jaaferi’s transformative lead performance and backed by a compelling psychological premise, the film is positioned as one of the standout Indian thrillers of early 2026 — especially for audiences seeking layered, thought-provoking cinema that defies easy genre categorization.
