‘Shakti Shalini’ is the latest addition to the comedy universe, but for director Aditya Sarpotdar, its story defines the film. Aneet Padda leads the film, stepping into the role after her breakout turn in ‘Saiyaara’. She was officially announced as the lead in October 2025, and the film is set to hit cinemas on December 24, 2026. Sarpotdar’s interest in Padda, however, goes back to before ‘Saiyaara’ became a hit. He watched her in the series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ and was struck by the contrast in her performances.
Aditya Sarpotdar on discovering Aneet Padda in ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’
In an interview with Variety India, Aditya said, “When we reached Ooty for the shoot of ‘Thamma’, my location director mentioned the series. I watched it and immediately understood that this girl has a different range. At times, she appears like a carefree tomboy; at other times, like an emotional, vulnerable girl. Very few actresses possess this kind of range”.According to Sarpotdar, that range was just one reason Padda stood out for ‘Shakti Shalini’. What also drew him was her drive to keep challenging herself as an actor. “Aneet’s biggest strength is her hunger, the thirst an artist has to learn and improve is clearly visible in her. She is not afraid to experiment with her performance. I am fully confident that she will bring something completely fresh to this universe and carve out her own identity,” he adds.
‘Shakti Shalini’ has wrapped filming
‘Shakti Shalini’ has finished filming and is now in post-production, with Sarpotdar having earlier said that the priority at this stage was to get the film right. Shot across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mumbai, the film wrapped its final schedule in May.
