Before the audience settled down to watch the grand Diwali release *Thamma*, they were treated to a 60-second announcement promo for *Shakti Shalini*. The teaser confirmed that Aneet Padda would play the lead role and revealed the film’s release date as December 24, 2026.
Interestingly, this date was earlier reserved for *Mahavatar*, starring Vicky Kaushal, directed by Amar Kaushik, and produced by Maddock Films. Maddock is also the production house behind *Thamma*, with Amar serving as one of its producers and mentors.
In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Amar Kaushik opened up about *Mahavatar* and why it is his most ambitious film to date.
### EXCLUSIVE: Vicky Kaushal-starrer *Mahavatar* to go on floors in mid-2026; Amar Kaushik shares exciting details
When asked if *Mahavatar* had been postponed, Amar Kaushik replied,
“Yes. The prep is going on for 6-7 months. Mujhe toh soch ke hi darr lag raha hai. We have worked extensively on the set design, weapon design, and character looks. The scripting is done, but we still need more time. Vicky will complete his other commitments first, and after that, he’ll start his preparation. Hence, we hope to go on floors by mid-next year.”
Amar continued,
“For me, it is a huge passion project. When I was in school in Arunachal Pradesh, there used to be a Parshuram Kund nearby. I asked my mother who Parshuram was, but I was told not to talk much about it. I was only told that he was quite hot-tempered. This sparked my fascination with the character. When I read about him later in life, I was wowed and kept wondering, ‘Will I ever be able to make a film on this subject?’ Now, having gained experience and understanding of VFX, I feel confident to pull it off.”
The timing couldn’t be better for Amar, who recently delivered *Stree 2* (2024), the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. Did this success also give confidence to producer Dinesh Vijan to entrust such a big responsibility to Amar Kaushik?
Amar answered,
“Yes, that always happens. If you haven’t proved yourself, why would anyone entrust you with such responsibility? Agar aapke bade sapne hai, toh chhote sapne toh poore karo pehle (smiles). In fact, I wouldn’t have taken up the film earlier in my career. Mujhe toh abhi bhi darr lag raha hai!”
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**Also Read:** [BREAKING! Vicky Kaushal to play Chiranjeevi Parashurama in Amar Kaushik’s Mahavatar, first look posters out; film to hit cinemas on Christmas 2026](#)
**More Pages:**
– Mahavatar Box Office Collection
– Bollywood News Live Updates
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/exclusive-vicky-kaushal-starrer-mahavatar-go-floors-mid-2026-amar-kaushik-shares-exciting-details-prep-going-6-7-months-mujhe-toh-soch-ke-hi-darr-lag-raha-hai/
