**Amar Kaushik Addresses Shakti Shalini Casting Rumours: Was Kiara Advani Ever Approached?**
Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, who is currently developing Maddock Films’ next horror comedy **Shakti Shalini**, has spoken out about the mounting speculation surrounding the film’s casting.
Rumours had been swirling that Bollywood star Kiara Advani was initially approached for the lead role and was later replaced by *Saiyaara* breakout Aneet Padda. Amar Kaushik has now set the record straight regarding these claims.
### Amar Kaushik on Shakti Shalini Casting Rumours
In a recent interview with Filmygyan, Amar Kaushik—who launched the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) with the hit film *Stree*—addressed the casting buzz.
When asked whether Aneet Padda joined the project after the success of *Saiyaara*, Kaushik clarified that Kiara Advani was never officially associated with *Shakti Shalini*.
> “Kiara is a beautiful actor. Nothing was confirmed, so I don’t know how it came out,” Amar explained. “I have always wanted to work with Kiara. When you write a story, you have an idea, and as you develop it further, you realise who fits which character. When *Saiyaara* came out, we were still in the process of writing *Shakti Shalini*.”
Pressed on whether Kiara had ever been finalized for the film, Kaushik stated,
> “Nobody was locked. There was nothing like that. We were just exploring who would fit the role. Sometimes even we don’t know the full story, but someone leaks something.”
### About Shakti Shalini
*Shakti Shalini* was officially teased in the end credits of *Thamma*, which starred Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. The post-credit announcement confirmed Aneet Padda would play the titular role, fueling further speculation about her casting.
While detailed information about the film is still under wraps, it is known that Amar Kaushik is involved in writing the project. *Shakti Shalini* will be the next major installment in the expanding Maddock Horror Comedy Universe.
### The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU)
The MHCU has emerged as one of Bollywood’s most successful cinematic universes, starting with *Stree* in 2018. It continued with crowd-pleasers like *Bhediya*, *Munjya*, and the recent *Thamma*. Collectively, the franchise has crossed Rs. 1500 crores at the global box office. *Thamma* alone has earned over Rs. 180 crores worldwide, further illustrating the universe’s widespread popularity.
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