Homebound
actor Vishal Jethwa has reportedly signed Shakti Shalini, opposite Saiyaara actress Aneet Padda and is now a part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. Slated for a theatrical release in December this year, Jethwa is known to be playing the lead female character's love interest. Fans can expect a blend of horror, comedy, and thrills, the signature Maddock formula. The film was initially scheduled for a 2025 release with Kiara Advani on board. Maddock Horror Comedy Universe's latest film Thamma, released on October 21, 2025 starred Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles.
Vishal Jethwa signs Shakti Shalini
As per India Today, Shakti Shalini, an upcoming Maddock film with Aneet Padda as the lead actress now has Vishal Jethwa alongside, playing the male lead role and her on screen partner. The film is set to go on floors next month, in March and is planned to be released on December 24, 2026. Vishal is known for his highly appreciated film released last year titled Homebound, co-starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishan Khatter. The film got the 98th Oscars nominations to be held this year, marking India's official entry to the worldwide awards. Though the film could not make it to the final nominations, it was praised overall.
Maddock Horror Universe films ahead
The Horror Comedy Universe franchise has an exciting slate lined up including
Chamunda and
Bhediya 2 next year in 2027, followed by Stree 3 later next year and Maha Munjya, Pehla Mahayudh, and Doosara Mahayudh in 2028. Big names such as Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Varun Dhawan, Akshay Kumar, and Ayushmann Khurrana are part of this cinematic universe, with more stars expected to join in the future projects.
Aneet Padda in Saiyaara
Aneet Padda received worldwide acclaim for her 2025 release
Saiyaara where she marked her full-fledged debut in Bollywood cinema. She co-starred Ahaan Panday with Mohit Suri's talented direction to this rom-com saga. Saiyaara was among the highest grossing films of 2025, with a collection of over Rs 570 crore worldwide, after being made on a budget of just Rs 45 crore. The film was also named as the most popular Indian film of 2025 as per IMDb.
Stay tuned for more updates!
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