Behind the Casting: How Aneet Padda Joined ‘Shakti Shalini’
This week, the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe welcomed a new film titled Thamma, marking its fifth installment since Stree debuted in 2018. This vampire romantic comedy has captivated audiences with Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui's stellar performance. A major highlight was the announcement of the upcoming film Shakti Shalini, featuring Aneet Padda, known for her role in Saiyaara.
Fans were eager to learn how Aneet secured this role, especially after initial speculation suggested that Kiara Advani was the frontrunner. In a recent interview, Amar Kaushik, the director and co-creator of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, explained, “While writing the script, we realized we needed a younger actor. After seeing her in Saiyaara, we knew she was perfect for the role.”
Kaushik confirmed that shooting for Shakti Shalini is set to begin in January 2026, which is exciting news for Aneet and her fans. He also mentioned that while they plan to release one film from the universe next year, they want to avoid overwhelming audiences with too many releases in a short time frame.
With anticipation building, fans are excited to see what Aneet will bring to her new role!




