Shakti Shalini Release Delayed to March 2027: Why Maddock Films Moved Aneet Padda and Nana Patekar's Film Away From Shah Rukh Khan's King

Searches for "shakti shalini" trended in India on 9 October 2026, with Google Trends recording approximately 2,000 queries in a 24-hour period. The spike follows reports that Maddock Films has moved the Aneet Padda-led horror-comedy from its planned Christmas 2026 slot to March 2027, chiefly to avoid a box-office clash with Shah Rukh Khan's King. The film also carries added emotional weight because it marks the final screen appearance of Nana Patekar, who died on 8 October 2026.

Why the date moved from Christmas 2026 to March 2027

Reports citing Mid-Day, including coverage by the Times of India and Bollywood Hungama, say producer Dinesh Vijan and director Aditya Sarpotdar are now targeting the first quarter of 2027. The makers had initially treated Christmas 2026 as a festive window for the banner, but they also wanted to protect Padda's second theatrical release after the blockbuster Saiyaara (2025). A source told Mid-Day that giving the young star a solo release was a key factor in the decision.

A crowded January and February, a comparatively open March

Another reason for the shift is the theatrical calendar. According to the same Mid-Day source, January 2027 already has big-budget titles such as Love and War and Golmaal 5, while February is expected to see Naagzilla and Ayushmann Khurrana's Mupasa. March is described as a relatively freer window.

Month	Reported competing releases
January 2027	Love and War, Golmaal 5
February 2027	Naagzilla, Mupasa (Ayushmann Khurrana)
March 2027	Comparatively open window for Shakti Shalini

Nana Patekar's final film and the tribute angle

Patekar had completed filming for Shakti Shalini in May 2026, according to PTI. After the actor's death on 8 October 2026, Sarpotdar told PTI he had not imagined the film would become Patekar's last work and described it as a tribute to one of the best actors of Indian cinema. The film stars Padda in the titular role alongside Vishal Jethwa, Vineet Kumar Singh and Seema Biswas, and it introduces a new character and female-centric spirit lore into the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, which includes Stree, Bhediya and Munjya.

What is confirmed and what remains unofficial

Although the India News Network and other outlets report the March 2027 target, the exact date has not been officially announced. Maddock Films has not confirmed the postponement in a formal statement, and post-production is reportedly still progressing. Until the studio locks and announces a date, the March window should be read as an industry report rather than a definitive release schedule.