Kriti Sanon is moving into a genre she has not carried on her own before. A source close to the development has told Bollywood Hungama that the actor has locked a large-scale, full-fledged horror film backed by Maddock Films, which she will headline. The project comes after her recent work in Cocktail 2 and Tere Ishk Mein.
“She’s stepping into the world of pure horror with a large-scale film produced by Maddock which she will be headlining,” the source said.
No title, director, cast or release date has been announced yet.
Not another horror-comedy
Maddock Films is best known in this space for its horror-comedy universe. But the source says this project is being designed as an out-and-out horror film, a lane the production house is reportedly exploring for the first time.
That distinction matters for the audience. Horror-comedy gives viewers a comic safety valve; pure horror puts the tension — and the lead actor’s screen presence — at the centre of the film.
Kriti and Maddock, by the numbers
If confirmed, this would be Kriti Sanon’s ninth collaboration with Maddock Films. It would also be her second solo lead for the banner after Mimi, the performance that won her the National Film Award for Best Actress, shared with Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi.
- 9th Kriti–Maddock collaboration
- 2nd solo lead with the banner after Mimi
- 1st out-and-out horror film from Maddock, as per the source
Her earlier Maddock credits include Raabta, Luka Chuppi, Bhediya and Crew, among others. Bhediya already put her in the supernatural space, but this new project is said to treat horror seriously rather than as a genre mash-up.
Why this matters for Hindi movie fans
Sanon has moved between romantic comedy, drama and the supernatural. A solo horror lead is a different test: it asks an actor to hold fear, grief or resistance with fewer co-leads and fewer tonal escapes. Coming after a National Award-winning turn in Mimi, the reported choice signals she is using acting credibility to broaden the genres she can open on her own.
Horror also has a built-in audience in Hindi cinema. If Maddock can attach its scale and production polish to a straight horror story, the project could fill a gap between its horror-comedy franchise and more conventional scary films.
What to watch for next
For now, this is a development report rather than a formal studio announcement. The title, director, release timeline and broader casting are still awaited. If it lands as described, it gives Kriti Sanon a pure horror vehicle and gives Maddock a chance to test a different kind of audience draw beyond its established horror-comedy brand.
Source: Bollywood Hungama