It’s official: Aneet Padda replaces Kiara Advani in ‘Shakti Shalini’ | WATCH

After her Bollywood debut in Saiyaara, Aneet Padda is wasting no time making her mark in the industry. Rumours had been swirling for months, but it’s now official — Aneet Padda is stepping into the lead role of Shakti Shalini, replacing Kiara Advani in the much-anticipated next chapter of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe.

The announcement came in style, with a teaser for Shakti Shalini premiering as a post-credits scene attached to Thamma, the latest release starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The clip, which quickly went viral online, simply read:

“The protector. The destroyer. The mother of all. Aneet Padda in Shakti Shalini. Shakti unleashed Dec 24, 2026.”

Set for a Christmas 2026 release, Shakti Shalini will follow in the footsteps of hit horror comedies like Stree, Roohi, and Bhediya, expanding the interconnected Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. This time, however, it’s Aneet’s turn to take centre stage — a significant step, especially as she follows on from powerhouse performances by the likes of Shraddha Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.

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The fans are both excited and curious to see how Aneet will handle the genre shift. One user commented, “This movie will prove Aneet's capability as an actor — she really has to work hard on her skills,” while another added, “If she actually pulls it off, we might finally have a proper Gen Z actor going full-on mainstream. Super excited for this one!”

Others are calling it a “litmus test” and noting the added pressure after her acclaimed turn in Saiyaara, which also marked the debut of Ahaan Panday.