Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, who is developing Maddock Films’ next horror comedy Shakti Shalini, has addressed ongoing rumours about the film’s casting. Speculation had been rife that Kiara Advani was initially approached for the project and was later replaced by Saiyaara star Aneet Padda. Amar Kaushik on Shakti Shalini Casting RumoursIn an interview with Filmygyan, Amar Kaushik-who kickstarted the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) with Stree-set the record straight. When asked if Aneet Padda was cast after the success of Saiyaara, Amar explained that Kiara was never officially part of the project.“Kiara is a beautiful actor. Nothing was confirmed, so I don’t know how it came out,” Amar said. “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.”When asked if Kiara had ever been finalized for the film, Amar clarified, “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 ShaliniShakti Shalini was officially teased in the end credits of Thamma, which starred Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. The post-credit announcement confirmed that Aneet Padda would play the titular role, fueling rumours 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. The film will be the next installment in the expanding Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU)The MHCU has been one of Bollywood’s most successful cinematic universes, beginning with Stree in 2018. With hits like Bhediya, Munjya, and the recently released Thamma, the franchise has collectively crossed Rs. 1500 crores at the global box office. Thamma alone has earned over Rs. 180 crores worldwide, further solidifying the universe’s popularity. Also Read: From Sharvari’s Alpha to Aneet Padda’s Shakti Shalini, here are five actresses with the strongest upcoming releases.
Tag: maddock horror comedy universe
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat: Harshvardhan Rane scene goes viral for “shirt-over-dressing” goof-up; doctor roast it on social media
Harshvardhan Rane, currently enjoying box office success with his romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, has unexpectedly become the centre of a social media debate and this time, it’s not for his performance. A scene from the Milap Zaveri directorial has caught the attention of netizens and even medical professionals, leading to a wave of memes, criticisms and light-hearted trolling. The moment under scrutiny appears in a sequence where Rane’s character sustains a bullet injury to his arm. While the narrative intends to depict the urgency of medical care, viewers were quick to point out a glaring continuity error: the dressing for the wound is applied over the actor’s shirt instead of on the skin. A doctor, who stumbled upon the clip, shared it on X (formerly Twitter) with a sarcastic caption that read, “Bollywood doctors are soo advanced. Shirt ke upper dressing.”The post quickly gained traction, and social media users wasted no time turning the clip into meme material. Comments ranged from snarky to outright hilarious, with one user writing, “Maybe they couldn’t afford to tear that shirt,” while another joked, “They don’t use two brain cells.” Some others added to the humour with quips like “Sare COVID me pass out huye hai (they all passed out in COVID),” “Mashoor Gulati is their doctor,” and “Everything is possible in love and Bollywood.” A particularly popular comment read, “Even his shirt got hit by the bullet.”Bollywood Doctors are soo advanced. Shirt ke Upper Dressing.???? pic. twitter. com/OmY7sICl8x Dr Anil Gurjar (@Dr_Akgurjar) November 5, 2025Despite the trolling, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat continues to draw audiences. The film, described as an intense romantic drama, features Sonam Bajwa alongside Harshvardhan Rane. Directed by Milap Zaveri and written by Zaveri and Mushtaq Shiekh, the project is backed by Desi Movies Factory. Released on 21 October 2025 during the Diwali weekend, it faced competition from the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe title Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. While the blooper has triggered online amusement, it hasn’t dampened the film’s commercial run. For now, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is trending both for its box office performance and for a moment of unintended comedy that the internet refuses to let go. Also Read: Harshvardhan Rane signs Force 3 for Rs 15 crore fee: Reports.