Maddock Films has unveiled the first glimpse teaser of Shraddha Kapoor-starrer "Eetha", an upcoming Hindi-language biographical drama directed by Laxman Utekar ("Chhaava") and produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner. It is scheduled to release in theatres on August 28, 2026.
The film is a biopic chronicling the life of the legendary Marathi Tamasha and Lavani folk theatre artist, Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar. The title 'Eetha' originates from the regional pronunciation of "Vitha", which was Vithabai’s nickname. The narrative spans from the 1940s to the 1990s, capturing her rise as a cultural icon, her immense sacrifices, and her struggles behind the spotlight.
The teaser has already got people talking for the notable depiction of a legendary real-life incident where Vithabai experiences intense labour pains backstage during a performance, gives birth, and immediately goes back onto the stage to perform out of sheer dedication to her craft.
Shraddha's co-stars include some of the biggest names in Hindi and Marathi cinema, such as Randeep Hooda, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Nana Patekar. Music is composed by Ajay-Atul. Akash Agarwal, who shot Utekar's "Mimi", is the director of photography.
An accomplished cinematographer himself, Utekar is also known for directing "Luka Chuppi" (his directorial debut), apart from "Mimi" and "Chhaava".
"Eetha" marks Shraddha's first standalone collaboration with Maddock Films after the "Stree" franchise and the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), in which her mysterious character with supernatural powers is expected to be a common binding factor across multiple films that are part of the universe. She is officially locked in to return for "Bhediya 2" and the highly anticipated "Stree 3".
