Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has reportedly declined an offer to star opposite Alia Bhatt in the upcoming horror-comedy Chamunda, directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films.

The film, which was recently announced as part of Maddock Films’ successful horror-comedy universe, was initially planned to feature Khan alongside Bhatt in the lead roles. According to reports from Indian media, Khan, who had been in discussions with Vijan’s production house for a potential collaboration, was approached for Chamunda. However, he chose to turn down the role, expressing a preference not to join an already established cinematic universe. Instead, Khan reportedly expressed interest in creating something new and fresh with Maddock Films and Kaushik. Sources close to the development revealed that Khan has requested the duo to bring him a new concept and explore a genre that hasn’t been seen before. This decision has led to the filmmakers searching for alternative names to cast in Chamunda, while they hope to work with Khan in the future on a new and original project. Chamunda, which is part of the horror-comedy universe that includes popular films like Stree, Bhediya, and Munjya, is scheduled to release on December 4, 2026. Despite the casting change, the team remains optimistic about collaborating with Khan on something fresh in the coming years.