The suspense is finally over. After weeks of speculation, fan theories, and unending casting debates, Aneet Padda has been officially confirmed as the lead in Maddock Films’ upcoming horror-comedy Shakti Shalini. The confirmation didn’t come through a press release, but via a special announcement clip attached to the theatrical print of Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. The video, which has now leaked online, has put an end to rumours claiming that Kiara Advani was headlining the film.
The clip, described with the words “the creator, the destroyer, and the mother of all”- marks Padda’s entry into the world built by the Stree makers. Fans, who were awaiting her post-Saiyaara move, are calling this casting “a goosebump moment” and “a game-changer” for Maddock’s horror-comedy universe.
Earlier reports had suggested that Kiara Advani was in talks for the project. However, Maddock has now made it clear that Aneet will lead the film, which has also locked its release date for December 24, 2026, shifting from its earlier 2025 window.
What did the leaked Thamma clip actually reveal?
Soon after the announcement ran in theatres, a still believed to be from Shakti Shalini surfaced on social media, featuring a woman floating mid-air in a white lehenga, her back to the camera, braid swaying dramatically in a dark forest. Fans are convinced the mysterious figure is Aneet, flooding X and Instagram with reactions.
“Aneet Padda officially enters her era. Goosebumps,” wrote one user.
“First solo female superhero film in the MHCU… she’s the next big thing,” posted another.
Aneet, who debuted in Revathi’s Salaam Venky and went on to star in Big Girls Don’t Cry, became a nationwide sensation after Mohit Suri’s musical blockbuster Saiyaara, which earned ₹569.75 crore worldwide and turned her into a household name.
With Shakti Shalini, she now steps into a solo-heroine, mass-fantasy space and the hype suggests that the audiences are ready.
