Starring
An upcoming biopic
Eetha is an upcoming Hindi-language biographical drama directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner. It stars Shraddha Kapoor in the title role of Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar, the legendary Marathi Tamasha and Lavani performer revered as the "Tamasha Samradni" (Empress of Tamasha). The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on 28 August 2026, over the Raksha Bandhan weekend.
As of mid-2026 the film has not yet released. A first teaser arrived on 23 June 2026 and immediately drew attention for its grit rather than any glamour, showing Kapoor in a de-glamourised period avatar. The supporting cast includes Randeep Hooda, Nana Patekar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Anant Joshi. Because it is still unreleased, no reviews, final plot details or box-office figures exist yet.
Who was Vithabai
Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar (July 1935 – 15 January 2002) was born in Pandharpur, in Maharashtra's Solapur district, into a hereditary performing family — the Bhau-Bapu Mang Narayangaonkar tamasha troupe, run by her father and uncle and founded by her grandfather Narayan Khude. From childhood she absorbed Lavani, Gavlan and other folk forms, and rose to become one of the most celebrated figures of Tamasha, the Marathi folk theatre that fuses song, dance and drama. She was honoured with recognition from the President of India in 1957 and again in 1990, yet accounts of her life consistently note that she battled financial hardship for much of it.
The most retold story of her life — and the one the teaser dramatizes — has Vithabai going into labour backstage during a live performance, giving birth, and returning to the stage almost immediately so the show would not stop. Her legacy endures through her daughter Mangala Bansode, herself a leading tamasha artiste, and through the Vithabai Narayangaonkar Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted by the Government of Maharashtra in 2006 to honour those who sustain the Tamasha tradition.
The makers
Behind the camera is Laxman Utekar, coming off the enormous success of his 2025 Sambhaji Maharaj epic Chhaava, and known before that for Mimi, Luka Chuppi and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Eetha marks his first film with Shraddha Kapoor and reunites the actress with Maddock Films after the 2024 blockbuster Stree 2.
The music is composed by Ajay-Atul, the duo whose roots run deep in Marathi folk and whose landmark Sairat soundtrack reshaped the sound of regional cinema — a natural pairing for a film built around Lavani. Cinematography is by Akash Agarwal. Full soundtrack and song details had not been unveiled as of mid-2026.
Why it matters
For Shraddha Kapoor, Eetha is a marked departure — a performance-heavy, de-glamourised period role after years of largely commercial and horror-comedy work, and her first outright biopic. The subject also puts a rare spotlight on Tamasha and Lavani, folk arts central to Maharashtra's cultural identity but seldom centre-staged in mainstream Hindi cinema.
With a festival-weekend release, an in-form director, a celebrated composer and a true story that carries built-in emotional heft, the film has generated considerable anticipation ahead of its August 2026 bow. How it is received, and how the performances and box office ultimately land, remain to be seen once it opens.
Key details
| Release year | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Language | Hindi |
| Director | Laxman Utekar |
| Genre | Biographical |
| Starring | Shraddha Kapoor, Randeep Hooda, Nana Patekar |
Did you know?
- The teaser dramatizes a real, oft-told episode from Vithabai's life: she is said to have gone into labour backstage during a Tamasha show, delivered her baby, and gone straight back on stage so the performance could continue.
- Vithabai was honoured by the President of India twice, in 1957 and 1990, even though she lived much of her life in financial hardship.
- In 2006 the Government of Maharashtra instituted the Vithabai Narayangaonkar Lifetime Achievement Award, a top honour for contributions to the Tamasha art form.
- The music is composed by Ajay-Atul, the duo behind Sairat, whose work is steeped in Marathi folk — an apt fit for a Lavani-centred story.
- Eetha is director Laxman Utekar's follow-up to the 2025 blockbuster Chhaava, and it reunites Shraddha Kapoor with Maddock Films after Stree 2 (2024).
- Vithabai came from a hereditary tamasha family — the Bhau-Bapu Mang Narayangaonkar troupe — and her daughter Mangala Bansode carried the tradition forward as a noted performer in her own right.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Eetha releasing?
Eetha is scheduled to release in theatres on 28 August 2026, over the Raksha Bandhan weekend. As of mid-2026 the film had not yet released; its first teaser was unveiled on 23 June 2026. It is produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films.
Who does Shraddha Kapoor play in Eetha?
She plays Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar (1935–2002), the legendary Marathi Tamasha and Lavani performer known as the 'Tamasha Samradni', or Empress of Tamasha. It is Kapoor's first biopic and a striking departure from her usual commercial and horror-comedy roles.
Is Eetha based on a true story?
Yes. It is a biographical drama about the real folk artiste Vithabai Narayangaonkar, tracing her life, career and the hardships faced by female performers in traditional folk theatre. Because the film is unreleased, the specific dramatised details are not yet public.
Who is directing Eetha and who else stars in it?
The film is directed by Laxman Utekar, who made the 2025 hit Chhaava, for Maddock Films. Alongside Shraddha Kapoor, the cast includes Randeep Hooda, Nana Patekar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Anant Joshi.
Who composed the music for Eetha?
The score is by the acclaimed duo Ajay-Atul, whose deep Marathi folk roots and landmark Sairat soundtrack make them a fitting choice for a film centred on Lavani. Full soundtrack details had not been released as of mid-2026.
What does the Eetha teaser show?
The teaser, released on 23 June 2026, recreates one of the most famous episodes attributed to Vithabai — going into labour backstage during a live Tamasha performance, giving birth, and returning to the stage so the show could go on. It sets an intense, emotional tone and presents Shraddha Kapoor in a fully de-glamourised avatar.