There’s a growing buzz in Bollywood that Deepika Padukone has reportedly been approached by Maddock Films for not just one, but two major upcoming projects. The most talked-about offer is for her to play a mysterious Bengali ghost named Shaakhchuni in the studio’s expanding horror-comedy universe.
According to insiders, the ghost character is “powerful, eerie, and central” to the next chapter. Alongside that, Maddock is also said to be developing a large-scale fantasy epic — and Deepika is being considered as the lead for that too. For now, she has asked to see the full scripts before deciding, said a report in MidDay.
If all goes well, this could mark a bold new phase for her: from being a glamorous star to embodying a scary supernatural figure — and then possibly leading a fantasy world.
Maddock’s Horror Comedy Universe
Maddock Films is best known today for its shared cinematic universe — the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU). The journey began with Stree (2018), a horror-comedy inspired by Indian urban legend, which became an unexpected hit. Since then, the universe has expanded with films like Bhediya (2022), Munjya (2024), and a huge blockbuster like Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank (2024). Every movie draws on folklore and mixes horror with comedy, while staying connected to the same universe. Soon, we will see Aneet Padda in Shakti Shakti (2026) and Alia Bhatt in Chamunda (2027) before heading to the Mahayudh series with Akshay Kumar.
If Deepika becomes part of this world as Shaakhchuni — or joins the fantasy epic — it could bring a fresh new vibe to MHCU, blending her star power with Maddock’s supernatural storytelling. For now, the studio is staying tight-lipped about everything, leaving fans eagerly waiting.
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