Alia Bhatt is one of the busiest actresses in the industry right now, and her packed calendar has reportedly cost her a role in director Nag Ashwin’s next project. According to fresh reports, Alia has opted out of the film due to date clashes, paving the way for Sai Pallavi to take her place.
Why Alia Bhatt Exited the Project
Alia is currently juggling multiple big-budget films, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love And War alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, which is slated to release in March 2026.
She is also committed to Maddock Films’ Chamunda, to be directed by Amar Kaushik. Industry buzz suggests that Nag Ashwin wanted to shoot his film around the same time Alia had already given bulk dates to Chamunda, making it impossible for her to balance both projects.
A Mid-day report mentioned that Ashwin had been keen on pursuing his woman-led film for a while, even as his focus remained on Kalki 2898 AD and its sequel. With developments on Kalki 2 moving forward, Ashwin is expected to bring this new project into production sooner, making scheduling even tighter for Alia.
Sai Pallavi Steps In
Sai Pallavi, who has steadily built a strong pan-India fan base with films like Gargi, Fidaa, and Love Story, is now being considered to step into the role. Reports indicate that she is currently busy with Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, where she plays Sita. If she wraps up the second installment of Ramayana by mid-2026 as planned, she is expected to begin work on Ashwin’s film before he shifts attention to Kalki 2.
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Meanwhile, another development has stirred industry chatter. Shah Rukh Khan was reportedly offered the lead in Chamunda opposite Alia Bhatt, but the superstar turned it down.
According to Bollywood Hungama, SRK was not keen on joining Maddock’s already established horror-comedy universe and instead asked producer Dinesh Vijan and director Amar Kaushik to pitch him something fresh.
Even with this exit, Alia has a packed slate. Apart from Love And War and Chamunda, she is reportedly exploring a psychological supernatural thriller with Maddock Films. Fans are also eager to see her reunite with Ranbir Kapoor on screen after years, a collaboration she herself admitted she is most excited about.
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