Shakti Shalini, Maddock Films' next horror comedy headlined by Aneet Padda, is reportedly stepping away from a Christmas 2026 release to avoid a festive clash with Shah Rukh Khan's King. Reports emerging on October 8 say the makers are now considering an early 2027 release window, though no official announcement has been made yet.
The film was originally locked for December 24, 2026 — the same date on which King, the Shah Rukh Khan-led action film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, is officially dated. With two major titles landing on the same day, trade watchers say the makers prefer to give their new horror-comedy character a cleaner, standalone launch rather than a high-voltage holiday collision.
Why the shift matters for Maddock
Shakti Shalini is not just another franchise entry for Maddock's Horror Comedy Universe. It introduces a new female-led supernatural figure into the studio's expanding mythology, and it is Aneet Padda's second theatrical release after the runaway success of Saiyaara. Reports suggest the makers want to mount the film as its own event rather than slot it into a crowded Christmas corridor where it would compete for screens, shows and audience attention.
The decision also clears the festive runway for King, which remains one of the biggest Hindi titles locked for that window.
What we know about the film
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously made Munjya and Thamma, Shakti Shalini is produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. The film stars Aneet Padda alongside Vishal Jethwa, with Viineet Kumar Siingh in a darker antagonist role, Seema Biswas and Soham Majumdar. The veteran actor Nana Patekar is also part of the film in an undisclosed role, making it one of his last big-screen appearances.
The supernatural horror-comedy is set against a mystical backdrop involving Shakti and a vengeful spirit named Shalini. Director Sarpotdar has clarified that Padda does not play a double role, and details of her character remain under wraps.
For now, the early-2027 plan remains a reported consideration rather than a confirmed date, with the formal announcement still awaited from Maddock Films.
Sources: Box Office Worldwide: Shakti Shalini Release — Why Maddock Is Moving Aneet Padda's Horror Comedy Away From Shah Rukh Khan's King | TellyChakkar: Nana Patekar's Last Big-Screen Outing — Inside Aneet Padda's Shakti Shalini
The film was originally locked for December 24, 2026 — the same date on which King, the Shah Rukh Khan-led action film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, is officially dated. With two major titles landing on the same day, trade watchers say the makers prefer to give their new horror-comedy character a cleaner, standalone launch rather than a high-voltage holiday collision.
Why the shift matters for Maddock
Shakti Shalini is not just another franchise entry for Maddock's Horror Comedy Universe. It introduces a new female-led supernatural figure into the studio's expanding mythology, and it is Aneet Padda's second theatrical release after the runaway success of Saiyaara. Reports suggest the makers want to mount the film as its own event rather than slot it into a crowded Christmas corridor where it would compete for screens, shows and audience attention.
The decision also clears the festive runway for King, which remains one of the biggest Hindi titles locked for that window.
What we know about the film
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously made Munjya and Thamma, Shakti Shalini is produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. The film stars Aneet Padda alongside Vishal Jethwa, with Viineet Kumar Siingh in a darker antagonist role, Seema Biswas and Soham Majumdar. The veteran actor Nana Patekar is also part of the film in an undisclosed role, making it one of his last big-screen appearances.
The supernatural horror-comedy is set against a mystical backdrop involving Shakti and a vengeful spirit named Shalini. Director Sarpotdar has clarified that Padda does not play a double role, and details of her character remain under wraps.
For now, the early-2027 plan remains a reported consideration rather than a confirmed date, with the formal announcement still awaited from Maddock Films.
Sources: Box Office Worldwide: Shakti Shalini Release — Why Maddock Is Moving Aneet Padda's Horror Comedy Away From Shah Rukh Khan's King | TellyChakkar: Nana Patekar's Last Big-Screen Outing — Inside Aneet Padda's Shakti Shalini
