After Stree and Bhediya, Dinesh Vijan expands MHCU with an AI-driven story

Shraddha Kapoor in ‘Stree 2’; Aneet Padda will lead ‘Shakti Shalini’; Varun Dhawan in ‘Bhediya’; A still from ‘Thamma’

First came ‘Stree' (2018). Then ‘Bhediya' (2022), ‘Munjya' (2024), and ‘Thamma' followed, each film giving us a unique character and its world. Now, it looks like there's another new entrant in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) - Artificial Intelligence (AI). mid-day has learnt that producer Dinesh Vijan is exploring the possibility of creating a full-fledged AI-driven big-screen spectacle that will be a part of the MHCU.

Sources tell us that the idea is currently in the development stage. "There are exciting titles ‘Bhediya 2', ‘Stree 3', ‘Shakti Shalini' with Aneet Padda, and ‘Chamunda' with Alia Bhatt. The makers want to integrate an AI film into the slate as well. They have high ambitions with the MHCU, and an AI film feels like a natural fit that will widen the possibilities of what can happen in that universe. Things are, however, in the nascent stage," reveals a source.

A still from ‘Munjya'

‘Shakti Shalini' is the immediate film the banner is focusing on. Led by ‘Saiyaara' star Padda, the horror comedy was officially announced with a teaser attached to MHCU's latest offering, ‘Thamma'. The project is likely to roll early next year. Another source shares, "Work on the AI film will go on simultaneously. If it lands, it may prove to be path-breaking for Hindi cinema."

mid-day reached out to Maddock Films, which didn't respond till press time.