In a move to quell widespread rumours, Maddock Films has released an official statement addressing the rampant casting speculation surrounding two of its most-anticipated projects, Shakti Shalini and Maha Munjya. The production house, a pioneer of the horror-comedy genre, urged the media to refrain from publishing unverified reports and to wait for official announcements from their end.
The statement, shared across their social media handles on Friday morning, reads, “While we truly value the excitement around our horror-comedy universe, we want to make it absolutely clear that any reports regarding the casting of the upcoming chapters, including Shakti Shalini and Maha Munjya, are purely speculative. We urge the media to avoid misinformation and to wait for official announcements from us.”
The official statement follows a series of recent reports that had gone viral across entertainment portals and social media. One of the primary rumours centred on the casting of Shakti Shalini, a female-led film and the next installment in Maddock’s cinematic universe. Reports suggested that actress Aneet Padda, who received acclaim for her work in the recent film Saiyaara, had been roped in for the lead role.
This report gained traction following earlier news that Kiara Advani, who was initially rumoured to be in talks for the film, had to bow out due to her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter in July 2025. According to insiders, Aneet Padda had even successfully completed a look test, which fuelled the speculation about her being finalized as the new lead. While Maddock’s statement dismisses the reports as speculative, industry sources believe there is a grain of truth to the rumours, and that discussions with Aneet Padda were indeed underway.
The other major report addressed by the statement was about the cast of Maha Munjya, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2024 sleeper hit, Munjya. Latest reports had claimed that Pratibha Ranta, the breakout star of Laapataa Ladies, had joined the cast alongside Sharvari and Abhay Verma. The rumours were divided on whether Pratibha would be replacing Sharvari or if she would be playing a new, parallel lead role in the sequel.
For a major production house like Maddock Films, issuing a public statement is not a routine occurrence. It suggests that the casting rumours had reached a point where they were creating confusion and impacting the brand’s reputation for making well-thought-out, strategic announcements. The widespread, and often conflicting, nature of these reports could misinform the public and put pressure on the actors and filmmakers.
The Maddock Horror-Comedy Universe, which includes blockbusters like Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya, has a massive fan following. Every new casting rumour is met with intense scrutiny and debate on social media. By issuing a firm statement, the makers have reasserted control over the narrative and have made it clear that they will be the sole source of official information.
While the statement from Maddock Films does not directly confirm or deny any specific actor’s involvement, it serves as a clear message that the final cast is yet to be locked in, or that an official announcement with the full details is in the works. For fans and the media, the statement serves as a cue to exercise patience, while it also confirms that the films are progressing and that the makers are close to making a final decision. The wait-and-watch approach suggested by the production house is now the only way forward for all stakeholders.
