May has been busy for Saiyaara (2025) star Aneet Padda, who was shooting the final schedule of her next, Shakti Shalini. Like all good things, this one came to an end too. On May 27, director Aditya Sarpotdar wrapped the horror comedy at Chitrarth Studio in Powai, where they filmed an elaborate sequence that sees the celebration of the protagonist’s victory over evil.

The latest chapter in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe sees Padda in a double role — as an ordinary woman-turned-protector Shakti, and an evil spirit Shalini. The story revolves around the vengeful ghost who punishes men, as she was betrayed and killed in a brutal manner, and her eventual face-off with Shakti.

About the last day of the shoot, a source shared, “Massive sets depicting a Rajasthani village and the interiors of a house were built. The sequence shows the village people, especially women, celebrating the defeat of evil.”

Things have progressed briskly on Shakti Shalini — also starring Vishal Jethwa and Viineet Kumar Siingh — since the horror comedy rolled in March. In early May, Padda and the team headed to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The source elaborated, “Viineet, who portrays the antagonist, and Aneet shot the climax across Chambal, Datia, Antri, Panihar, Gwalior, and Morena in Madhya Pradesh. They filmed significant portions in Dholpur and Barkhandi in Rajasthan. Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas joined the unit in May.”

Like Shraddha Kapoor aptly pointed out, Aneet Padda is the perfect blend of cuteness and acting, but that doesn’t mean she lacks fierceness. The ‘Saiyaara’ breakout star is reportedly playing both a goddess and a demoness in Maddock Horror Comedy Universe’s (MHCU) ‘Shakti Shalini’. After months of gruelling shooting that began in March this year, the film has now entered the final leg of production.

The current outdoor schedule is expected to continue through May, with the team aiming to wrap principal photography by the end of the month before shifting focus to post-production and VFX work. The makers are in no hurry to lock the release date yet.

A source close to the film says, “The idea is to finish the film properly and then spend enough time on the VFX. If everything goes as planned, they’re looking at a January 2027 release.”

Since Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Love & War’ is scheduled to release on January 21, the source says, “The makers are tentatively looking at the first half of the month. [But the final] call will be taken post the release of ‘Cocktail 2’, from the same stable.”

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‘Shakti Shalini’ marks a reunion for Aneet Padda and Vishal Jethwa, who previously shared the screen in the film, ‘Salaam Venky’ (2022)

Everyone has wanted to see more of Aneet Padda ever since she broke out with the sleeper hit, Saiyaara (2025). What if we told you that you’ll see two of her in her next, Shakti Shalini? mid-day has exclusively learnt that Padda plays a double role in Aditya Sarpotdar’s directorial venture, which is the next chapter in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe.

As the film’s title suggests, producer and co-writer Amar Kaushik and director Sarpotdar have etched out two powerful roles for the actor — the protector Shakti, and the evil force Shalini. From what we’ve heard, the horror comedy will see Shakti as an ordinary woman who transforms into an indestructible force when her family is attacked by an evil spirit.

A source told us, “Rooted in Bengali folklore and mythology, the movie revolves around the eternal battle between good and evil. The story is about a vengeful female ghost, dwelling in trees and water bodies, who punishes men, as she was betrayed and killed in a brutal manner. In Bengal, the goddess invoked to destroy evil spirits is Goddess Kali. She is recognised as the ultimate form of Shakti. Here, the character Shakti is pitted against the spirit.”

Sarpotdar took the project, also starring Vishal Jethwa and Viineet Kumar Siingh, on floors in Mumbai last month. The unit is currently shooting in Madh Island, where a massive set, depicting a small town in West Bengal, has been built.

The source added, “Next, they will head to Madhya Pradesh for an extensive schedule. Crucial scenes will be filmed in Datia, Gwalior, Morena, and other towns.”

For long, the question was: who will be the lead in Shakti Shalini, the latest instalment in Maddock Films’ horror comedy universe? That was settled when the banner announced that Aneet Padda will front the film. Now, many have been wondering who plays the antagonist in Aditya Sarpotdar’s directorial venture, and we’ve got the answer. Viineet Kumar Siingh’s team has confirmed to mid-day that he has been roped in as the horror comedy’s villain.

Siingh, who starred in Mukkabaaz (2018) and Superboys Of Malegaon (2025), has joined the shoot in Mumbai.

The actor’s team revealed, “This will be a departure from anything that Viineet has played before. He essays a darker antagonist here.”

A week-long shoot in Mumbai is on the cards, after which Siingh will take a break. The unit will then move to Madhya Pradesh. A source shared, “Shakti Shalini has high-octane drama, and the makers believe that an ensemble cast of Aneet, Viineet, and Vishal Jethwa will bring the gravitas that it needs.”

Debutante Aneet Padda basked in the mammoth success of her musical romance, Saiyaara, all of last year. Now, she is ready to move on to her next project. The climax of the Ayushmann Khurrana-led supernatural romance, Thamma (2025), teased with a glimpse of Shakti Shalini, the next story in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU). Sources tell mid-day that the first schedule of the horror comedy has been chalked out, with the pre-production about to wrap up.

“Aneet will begin shooting for the film in March. It’s going to be a marathon schedule. The film was earlier set to start rolling in January, but pre-production needed more time,” informs a source.

Rumours are rife that Homebound (2025) actor Vishal Jethwa is paired opposite Padda in the film. While the makers are mum about the director, mid-day has learnt that Aditya Sarpotdar — who helmed Thamma — has been signed on to captain this ship.

“Aditya’s relationship with Maddock Films began with Munjya (2024). He has a flair for combining mythology, horror, and humour. Shakti Shalini is fleshed out slightly different from the other MHCU films. [It will have] far more drama,” says an insider of the Christmas release.

Actor Aneet Padda, who made waves among Gen Z audiences with Saiyaraa earlier this year, is gearing up for her next feature, Shakti Shalini, part of a popular horror-comedy franchise. But before the cameras roll, the actor is focused on completing her final-year BA (Hons) Political Science exams at the University of Delhi.

A source reveals, “Aneet is set to appear for her college exams in December and January before she begins shooting for Shakti Shalini, which she is headlining.”

Industry insiders share that the actor has been striking a careful balance between academics and work. “Her schedule is being managed perfectly so she can devote time to her studies while wrapping up key professional commitments,” adds another source.

Aneet signed Shakti Shalini at 22, and the film is slated for a theatrical release on December 24, 2026. The makers recently shared announcement teaser alongside their latest outing Thamma. Before Saiyaraa, Aneet appeared in Salaam Venky (2022), playing the blind love interest of Vishal Jethwa.

Shraddha Kapoor in ‘Stree 2’; Aneet Padda will lead ‘Shakti Shalini’; Varun Dhawan in ‘Bhediya’; A still from ‘Thamma’

First came ‘Stree’ (2018). Then ‘Bhediya’ (2022), ‘Munjya’ (2024), and ‘Thamma’ followed, each film giving us a unique character and its world. Now, it looks like there’s another new entrant in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) — Artificial Intelligence (AI). mid-day has learnt that producer Dinesh Vijan is exploring the possibility of creating a full-fledged AI-driven big-screen spectacle that will be a part of the MHCU.

Sources tell us that the idea is currently in the development stage. “There are exciting titles ‘Bhediya 2’, ‘Stree 3’, ‘Shakti Shalini’ with Aneet Padda, and ‘Chamunda’ with Alia Bhatt. The makers want to integrate an AI film into the slate as well. They have high ambitions with the MHCU, and an AI film feels like a natural fit that will widen the possibilities of what can happen in that universe. Things are, however, in the nascent stage,” reveals a source.

‘Shakti Shalini’ is the immediate film the banner is focusing on. Led by ‘Saiyaara’ star Padda, the horror comedy was officially announced with a teaser attached to MHCU’s latest offering, ‘Thamma’. The project is likely to roll early next year. Another source shares, “Work on the AI film will go on simultaneously. If it lands, it may prove to be path-breaking for Hindi cinema.”

mid-day reached out to Maddock Films, which didn’t respond till press time.