The trailer of Eetha was unveiled at a grand event in Mumbai, attended by director Laxman Utekar, producer Dinesh Vijan, lead actors Shraddha Kapoor and Randeep Hooda, and other members of the film’s team. While the film brings the vibrant world of Maharashtra’s Lavani and Tamasha traditions to the big screen, Utekar made it clear that his intention went beyond celebrating the dance form. He wanted audiences to understand the struggles, sacrifices and complex realities faced by the women who dedicate their lives to this art.
Explaining why he chose this subject after directing Chhaava, Utekar spoke about the lack of awareness surrounding Lavani despite its rich cultural heritage. He said, “This is the story of a Tamasha Lavani dancer. When I first discussed making this film with Dinu Sir, we realized that while we are familiar with many dance forms—like Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, and Kalbelia—hardly anyone knew about Maharashtra’s Lavani, which is so beautiful, colorful, and glamorous. The objective was to showcase this Maharashtrian art form to the world—to highlight how vibrant, bright, joyful, and glamorous it is, while also revealing the deep pain and somber, complex realities that lie beneath.”
The director also clarified that Eetha is not simply the story of one woman. Although Shraddha Kapoor plays Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar, a celebrated Lavani performer, the film aims to represent the experiences of countless women whose lives are connected to this traditional art form. Utekar explained, “This is not the story of just one woman; it is the story of hundreds of such women—women who may fall or stumble, but who always rise again, refusing to let their dreams die! It also teaches others that, regardless of the circumstances, we can achieve whatever we set out to accomplish.”
Through this approach, Utekar hopes to bring attention to the contrast between the glamour of Lavani performances and the difficult circumstances that many artists experience away from the stage. The film seeks to celebrate their talent and resilience while also acknowledging the emotional and social challenges that often remain unseen by audiences. It is this combination of colour, music, determination and underlying pain that forms the heart of Eetha.
Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films in association with Kathputli Creations, the upcoming Hindi biographical drama also stars Randeep Hooda, Nana Patekar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Siddharth Jadhav, Ulka Gupta and Anant Joshi. The music has been composed by Ajay–Atul, while a large-scale song sequence featuring more than 800 background artists adds to the film’s ambitious portrayal of the Lavani world.
Eetha is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on December 4, 2026.