Aneet Padda Moves Beyond Romance, Takes Charge in ‘Shakti Shalini’

New Delhi, After gaining widespread recognition with Saiyaara in 2025, Bollywood actress Aneet Padda is ready to explore a different side of her acting career. Her first leading role, opposite Ahaan Panday in Mohit Suri’s romantic musical, brought her into the spotlight. Now, she is preparing for Shakti Shalini, an upcoming film from the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. In an interview with Variety India, Aneet discussed her decision to move beyond romance and explained why headlining a women-led film is particularly meaningful to her. Aneet described Shakti Shalini as the kind of project she wanted to pursue after the success of Saiyaara. Combining action, romance and supernatural elements, the film gives her an opportunity to explore a different kind of character. Expressing her gratitude for the role, she said, “I have been lucky to get Shakti Shalini. It’s by definition, the exact thing I’m going to want to do after Saiyaara. It’s so different. It’s action, romance and supernatural. I’ve gotten the chance to explore a completely different version of me.” Aneet also revealed that she specifically wanted to headline a film and take responsibility for its outcome. She highlighted the importance of getting this opportunity at an early stage in her career, acknowledging both the privilege and the pressure that come with it. Explaining her motivation, she said, “Also, I wanted to do a solo film, to be as blunt as I can be. I wanted to be able to say that this is my movie. As an actor, it’s on my shoulders. And how many women get to do that? I just felt very lucky to be able to have that in my second film. Even though it’s completely on my shoulders and that can be a little bit intimidating, but whatever happens with it is mine to own.” With Shakti Shalini, Aneet is moving beyond the romantic genre that brought her widespread recognition and embracing a project that allows her to showcase a different dimension of her acting. While carrying a film on her shoulders comes with considerable responsibility, she views the opportunity as an important milestone. As audiences await the film’s release, Aneet is preparing to take on a fresh challenge and establish her identity through a role that is distinctly her own.