In a flurry of recent entertainment news, Aneet Padda has been confirmed as the lead in Maddock Films' upcoming horror-comedy, "Shakti Shalini," while Abhinav Kashyap has reignited his criticism of Salman Khan, labeling him "insecure".

Aneet Padda, who gained recognition for her performance in "Saiyaara," is set to star in "Shakti Shalini," a part of Maddock Films' expanding Horror Comedy Universe. The announcement was made alongside the theatrical release of "Thamma," with a special video attached to the film. Initially slated for a 2025 release, "Shakti Shalini" is now scheduled to hit theaters on December 24, 2026. This strategic shift aims to align the film's debut with the holiday season, maximizing audience reach.

Padda is reportedly replacing Kiara Advani, who was initially considered for the lead role. Speculation is also circulating that Padda might have made a cameo appearance in the end-credit scene of "Thamma" as her character, "Shakti Shalini". The film is the newest addition to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, following successful ventures such as "Stree," "Bhediya," and "Munjya". The studio plans to release "Bhediya 2" and "Chamunda" in 2026, followed by "Stree 3" and "Mahamunjya" (Munjya 2) in 2027, and "Pehla Mahayudh" and "Doosara Mahayudh" in 2028.

Meanwhile, Abhinav Kashyap, the director of "Dabangg," has once again voiced his grievances against Salman Khan. In a recent interview, Kashyap claimed that Salman Khan was insecure about Sonu Sood's physique during the filming of "Dabangg". Kashyap stated that Khan was hesitant to cast Sood because he felt overshadowed by Sood's strong build. He credited Katrina Kaif with convincing Salman to agree to Sood's casting. Kashyap also mentioned that Randeep Hooda was his initial choice for the lead role, but the Khan brothers rejected the idea due to Hooda's limited marketability.

Kashyap has been a vocal critic of the Khan family, alleging interference during the making of "Dabangg". He claimed that Salman Khan trimmed Arbaaz Khan's role in the film due to insecurity and that the brothers "hate" each other. Kashyap even recounted an incident where Salman allegedly threw utensils at Arbaaz during a fight. He also stated that Arbaaz Khan was initially against Malaika Arora's item number in the film, fearing it would be too vulgar. Kashyap has previously described Salman Khan as a "goon" and stands by his comments.