Kiara Advani’s much-anticipated horror-comedy Shakti Shalini, a key part of Dinesh Vijan’s expanding horror-comedy universe, was initially set for a December 31, 2025, release. However, industry insiders suggest that the project is yet to take off, as the script is still being finalized.
While the film’s writing team is working to refine the screenplay and ensure continuity with the larger horror-comedy franchise, the delay in locking the script has raised concerns about whether the film can go on floors as planned in April or May 2025. Any further setbacks in the scripting stage could push the film’s pre-production and shooting schedule, making it difficult to meet the year-end release target.
Adding to the speculation, Kiara recently announced that she is expecting her first child with husband Sidharth Malhotra. Given her pregnancy, the timeline for Shakti Shalini may require further adjustments, as her availability for the shoot could be impacted. However, sources close to the actress indicate that she has already wrapped up most of her work on War 2, where she stars alongside Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr which is releasing on Independence Day weekend.
Post the success of Stree 2, Dinesh Vijan’s production house announced an 8 film slate spread over the next few years which will take the horror-comedy slate ahead. The film under the slate is going to be Thama which stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal in lead roles and is slated to release on Diwali this year. It was supposed to be a solo release but now it would be clashing with Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela’s romantic untitled film which is backed by Bhushan Kumar and directed by Anurag Basu with music by Pritam.
With Shakti Shalini being a high-stakes project for the horror-comedy franchise, the makers are treading carefully to ensure the film lives up to expectations. As of now, the production house remains committed to the announced release date, but an official update on the film’s status is awaited.