Aneet Padda's second theatrical outing was set for a Christmas 2026 date but may now land in March 2027, giving the Saiyaara star a solo release away from SRK's big one.
Dinesh Vijan's horror comedy factory is apparently doing some calendar math, and Shah Rukh Khan is the reason.
Shakti Shalini, Aneet Padda's entry into Maddock's horror-comedy universe, was originally lined up for December 2026, the Christmas slot the studio treats as a festival offering. That date would have put it on a collision course with King, Shah Rukh Khan's big-ticket release. According to a Bollywood Hungama report citing trade sources quoted by Mid-day, the makers are now rethinking that plan and eyeing a March 2027 window instead.
The reasoning, as laid out by the source, isn't just about avoiding SRK. Shakti Shalini is Aneet Padda's second theatrical film after Saiyaara turned into a 2025 blockbuster, and the studio apparently wants her to have a solo run rather than share a weekend with a star of Khan's weight. "The makers initially felt Christmas 2026 would be the right date because Shakti Shalini is no less than a festival offering for the banner," the source told Mid-day. "But since this is Aneet's second theatrical release after the blockbuster Saiyaara, they also felt it was important to give her a solo release."
Why March, specifically? The source walked through the traffic jam ahead of it. January 2027 already has Love and War and Golmaal 5 fighting for screens. February is stacked too, with Naagzilla and Ayushmann Khurrana's Mupapa both releasing. March, by comparison, looks relatively open. Nothing is locked yet, and the studio is still working out an exact date.
The film itself is shaping up to be one of the bigger swings in Maddock's horror-comedy run, a slate that already includes Stree, Bhediya and Munjya and has quietly become one of the most dependable franchises in Hindi cinema. Aditya Sarpotdar directs, mixing folklore and supernatural scares with the studio's trademark comic timing. The story reportedly introduces a female-centric spirit lore meant to widen the franchise's universe, with Aneet headlining alongside Vishal Jethwa.
The cast also includes Nana Patekar, whose recent death adds a different weight to the film's eventual release. Shakti Shalini will carry one of his final screen appearances, though there's no word yet on whether the makers plan any shift in how the film is marketed around that.
Post-production, per the report, is moving at full pace. Maddock is expected to firm up and announce the release date once internal discussions wrap, but for now March 2027 remains an unofficial target rather than a confirmed one. Until that announcement lands, the December date SRK's King once shared the calendar with stays very much up for grabs.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.