Alia Bhatt, currently immersed in the shoot of Love and War, has reportedly exited director Nag Ashwin’s upcoming woman-led project due to scheduling conflicts. The Jigra actress had been attached to the film for some time, but industry sources reveal that her packed calendar forced her to step back. According to Mid-Day, Bhatt had already committed bulk dates to Maddock Films’ Chamunda from March 2026, which clashed with Ashwin’s proposed shoot schedule.
However, Ashwin hasn’t shelved the project. Instead, Sai Pallavi is now being considered to lead the film. If her schedule permits, she may begin work on Ashwin’s project before he transitions to Kalki 2. Pallavi is currently expected to wrap the second part of Ramayana by mid-2026.
Meanwhile, Chamunda, a psychological supernatural thriller under Maddock Films and directed by Amar Kaushik, is generating buzz. Alia is reportedly excited about the collaboration, with the film currently in the writing phase. A source shared with Pinkvilla, “Alia has always discussed multiple films with Dinesh Vijan and is now close to finalizing Chamunda. Talks are ongoing, and an official announcement is expected in early 2025.”
Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan was approached to star opposite Alia in Chamunda. However, according to Bollywood Hungama, the superstar declined, expressing no interest in joining Maddock’s established horror-comedy universe. Instead, he’s asked the makers to return with an original concept and genre.
As for Alia, she will next be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. Speaking to News18 Showsha, she expressed excitement about reuniting with both actors and working under Bhansali’s direction once again. The film is slated for release on March 20, 2026.
