Copyright news18
After the success of Chaava, Laxman Utekar has reportedly started shooting for his next film with Shraddha Kapoor, a biopic drama inspired by the life of legendary Lavani and Tamasha artiste Vithabai Narayangaonkar. Now, a fresh update on the project has come up; it has been reported that Laxman Utekar has found his male lead, who will star opposite Shraddha Kapoor in the movie. As per Pinkvilla, Laxman Utekar has joined hands with Randeep Hooda, who will play the lead opposite Shraddha Kapoor in the film, tentatively titled Eetha. A source close to the development shared with the portal, “The shoot commences at the end of this month in Mumbai. Randeep plays the romantic lead opposite Shraddha… the makers are extremely confident about the casting, as both Randeep and Shraddha bring depth and versatility that fit perfectly with Utekar’s vision.” About the film The film is based on the extraordinary journey of Vithabai Narayangaonkar, one of Maharashtra’s most revered Tamasha performers. Born in July 1935 in Pandharpur, located in Solapur district, Vithabai came from a family deeply rooted in traditional folk performance. She began her career as a child and went on to become an iconic figure in the world of Lavani and Tamasha theatre. Known for her commanding stage presence, expressive voice, and high-energy performances, Vithabai’s contribution to Indian folk culture earned her two President’s Awards, first in 1957 and later in 1990. Shraddha Kapoor’s upcoming work The actor is set to return in Stree 3, scheduled for release in August 2027. She also has the ambitious fantasy trilogy Naagin lined up, in which she will play the titular role. Dinesh Vijan had explained the idea behind the MHCU and even revealed why Stree 3 won’t get a 2026 release. Dinesh told the Hindustan Times, “Someone very wise told me that when you’re making films, keep them in a box. It was a gentleman called Chuck Roven, who produces all of Christopher Nolan’s films; he’s done most of them. And he told Deepika (Padukone) and me this in 2012, and it stayed with me. So when Stree happened, I understood. There should be an ability to meet. Don’t change the physics if you want some people to meet. That’s how the idea of the universe came.”
