Saiyaara Star Aneet Padda Confirmed In Shakti Shalini; Release Date Out.

Official Casting Confirmation

Maddock Films officially confirmed Aneet Padda in the lead role of Shakti Shalini through a 60-second announcement teaser that premiered alongside Thamma in theaters on October 21, 2025. The announcement immediately generated significant excitement within the industry and among cinema enthusiasts, confirming long-standing speculation about Padda’s involvement with the MHCU.

The teaser featured the tagline “The protector. The destroyer. The mother of all,” accompanied by the text “Shakti unleashed Dec 24, 2026.” This dramatic introduction positioned Padda’s character as a powerful and mysterious force within the horror-comedy universe, distinctly different from previous MHCU protagonists.

Padda replaces Kiara Advani, who was originally approached for the role but subsequently stepped away. The recasting reflects Maddock Films’ strategic decision to align the project with a newer generation of talent, particularly following Padda’s explosive breakthrough with Saiyaara.

The casting announcement represented a significant vote of confidence from the production team, positioning Padda as capable of leading a major franchise installment despite her relatively recent entry into Bollywood.

Part of Maddock Horror Comedy Universe

Shakti Shalini represents the sixth major installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), following the success of Stree (2018), Bhediya (2022), Munjya (2024), Stree 2 (2024), and Thamma (2025). The MHCU has established itself as a unique cinematic universe blending Indian folklore, supernatural horror, and comedy into compelling narratives with crossover potential.

Each MHCU film draws from distinct Indian mythological traditions while contributing to an overarching universe where characters and storylines interconnect across installments. Thamma, which introduced Betaal mythology and connections to Goddess Kali, reportedly set the stage for Shakti Shalini‘s narrative arc through its post-credit sequences.

Significantly, Shakti Shalini will mark the first female-centric superhero narrative within the MHCU. While Stree featured a powerful female character, Rajkummar Rao’s Vicky served as the primary protagonist. Padda’s Shakti Shalini promises to center the narrative entirely around a female character, representing an evolution in the universe’s storytelling approach.

Director Amar Kaushik, the architect of the MHCU, emphasized that Maddock Films is maintaining a controlled release schedule to avoid “overdose” of universe content, with Shakti Shalini potentially serving as 2026’s sole MHCU release despite other projects in development.

Aneet Padda’s Journey

Aneet Padda’s entry into mainstream Bollywood occurred through her breakthrough lead role in Saiyaara (2025), a romantic musical drama where she starred alongside Ahaan Panday. The film, which exceeded ₹200 crores domestically, established Padda as a capable lead actress and earned her the IMDb Breakout Star STARmeter Award.

In Saiyaara, Padda portrayed Vaani Batra, a struggling lyricist who falls in love with a singer but faces heartbreak when diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her nuanced performance across the film’s emotional range demonstrated her capacity to handle complex, character-driven narratives.

Amar Kaushik revealed in interviews that after witnessing Saiyaara‘s success, he and the writing team recognized that Padda perfectly suited the character envisioned for Shakti Shalini. “When we were writing the script, we realized that we needed a younger actor. Meanwhile, we saw her film Saiyaara and realized that she suits the part perfectly for that character,” Kaushik explained.

Shakti Shalini represents Padda’s significant leap from breakout success to headlining a major franchise tentpole, positioning her as one of Bollywood’s most promising emerging talents within merely her second major film role.

Christmas 2026 Release Date

Shakti Shalini is scheduled for theatrical release on December 24, 2026, positioning itself as Maddock Films’ grand Christmas offering. This strategic release date places the film during the prime holiday season when families and groups typically frequent theaters, maximizing potential audience reach.

The December 24 release represents a delayed timeline from the original plan when Kiara Advani was attached to the project. Previously, Shakti Shalini was scheduled for December 31, 2025. The shift to 2026 reflects the production team’s commitment to comprehensive development and quality assurance for the project.

Amar Kaushik confirmed that filming will commence in January 2026, allowing approximately eleven months for principal photography, post-production work, visual effects, and marketing campaigns. This extended timeline reflects the film’s substantial production scale and technical ambitions.

The Christmas weekend positioning ensures Shakti Shalini faces minimal direct competition while capturing the extended holiday season theatrical audience. Industry analysts anticipate the film’s release will generate significant box office revenue during this traditionally lucrative period.

Production and Creative Details

Director: The directorial assignment for Shakti Shalini remains under discussion between Maddock Films and potential helms-people. Industry speculation suggests either Amar Kaushik or Thamma director Aditya Sarpotdar may direct, though no official confirmation has been announced.

Producer: Maddock Films, led by Dinesh Vijan, continues its established pattern of developing MHCU installments with meticulous attention to mythological authenticity and cinematic quality. The production company has demonstrated commitment to expanding the universe systematically.

Release Strategy: Maddock Films is implementing a controlled MHCU release schedule, with Shakti Shalini potentially serving as the sole universe entry in 2026. This measured approach prevents audience fatigue while building anticipation for future installments including Bhediya 2, Chamunda, and Stree 3.

Mythological Framework: Early reports suggest Shakti Shalini will explore divine feminine power rooted in Indian mythology, potentially connecting to Goddess Kali mythology introduced in Thamma. The film appears designed as an exploration of Shakti—the primordial feminine energy in Hindu philosophy—positioning Padda’s character as a powerful force of protection and destruction.

Crossover Potential: Post-credit sequences in Thamma reportedly hinted at Shakti Shalini‘s narrative connections to the broader MHCU, suggesting potential crossover elements or shared mythology that will eventually culminate in an ensemble film.