Medha Shankr was last seen in the April release, ‘Ginny Weds Sunny 2’

Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; October 22, 2026)

Two years after serving Killer Soup (2024) to the audience, filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey is ready to give shape to his next offering. Mid-Day has learnt that the director will helm a series, tentatively titled Kaala, to be led by Siddhant Chaturvedi. Can we expect another edgy story from the man who gave us Ishqiya (2010) and Udta Punjab (2016)? Well, the ingredients are all there, with sources telling us that Kaala is designed as a period drama focusing on the coal mafia in Jharkhand.

A source revealed, “The series begins sometime around the 1960s and is spread across several decades. Abhishek has envisioned it as an expansive story.”

Earlier this year, Chaturvedi stated in an interview that he was set to collaborate with the filmmaker. At the time, however, it wasn’t certain whether the project would be a film or series. 

Now, after months of pre-production, Chaubey is ready to call action on the series, which will be produced by Excel Entertainment. Another insider revealed, “The show will go on floors after Diwali. The first shoot will be conducted in Pune.”
--------------------------------------------
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; October 24, 2026)

Earlier this week, mid-day reported that Siddhant Chaturvedi and filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey were teaming up for Kaala, a series centred on Jharkhand’s coal mafia in the 1970s (Back to black, Oct 22). Now, it appears that the director has also zeroed in on his show’s leading lady. According to sources, Medha Shankr, who rose to fame with the sleeper hit 12th Fail (2023), has bagged the project.

A source told mid-day, “The team did extensive auditions in its hunt for the female lead. Medha was always a frontrunner. She fits the world that Abhishek has created.” This will be her maiden collaboration with both Chaturvedi and Chaubey.

With the two leads in place, the obvious question then is: who will be the baddie? Chaubey, who plans to kick off Kaala in Pune next month, seems to have figured that out.

Another insider revealed, “Ronit Bose Roy has been signed on to play the primary antagonist. His intensity and ability to bring diverse characters on screen with conviction made him the perfect choice.”