By: Entertainment DeskChennai | Updated: November 10, 2025 11:25 AM IST 3 min readDid Aneet Padda replace Kiara Advani in Shakti Shalini? Amar Kaushik answers the question.After the success of Thamma, filmmaker Amar Kaushik is gearing up for the sixth installment in Maddock’s Horror Comedy Universe — Shakti Shalini. Recently, the makers announced that Saiyaara breakout star Aneet Padda will play the lead role in the film. However, the announcement came amid rumours that Kiara Advani had been finalised to headline the project. In a recent interview, Amar Kaushik cleared the air and revealed whether Kiara was ever considered for the film.Speaking to Filmygyan, Amar said, “Kiara is a beautiful actor. But her casting in the film was never confirmed. I don’t know how this rumour got spread. I have always wanted to work with Kiara. I am waiting — when will I direct or produce one of her films. But when you are writing a story, then you decide which actor will suit this character. And we were in the writing process of Shakti Shalini when Saiyaara just released.”When asked if Kiara was ever locked for the project, Amar confirmed, “Kiara was never locked for the film. We were just thinking about the actors who could play this role.”The filmmaker also pointed out how such rumours can strain relationships within the film industry, adding that some people even pay to spread negative publicity. “The speculations tire you, and you have to handle them more than concentrating on your work. Ek normal PR hota hai that you are promoting your film. Ek hota hai ki payment kar ke aap uska kharab PR karo, woh zyada ho raha hai aajkal (People are paying upfront to do bad PR of films),” he said.Also read | 25 years of Indian Cinema | Small towns returned on screen in 2005 with Bunty Aur Babli; Black changed the conversationHe further added, “These things happen behind your back… but you can’t do anything about them because these things happen in our house also, and that is reflected in the industry.”Praising Aneet Padda and her potential as an actor, Amar said, “Aneet has shown a little bit of her potential in Saiyaara. Uss ladki mein bhara hua hai talent (She has a lot of talent). You have to hold her sometimes and ask her not to think much. She has a well volcano inside her and she is very pure right now.”Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Kiara Advani