The National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar wrapped up the final shooting for The Wives, his 16th movie, on February 4 2026. The film represents another significant effort by Bhandarkar, produced through his distinctive method of creating intense Bollywood films.
The film, subtitled In the Shadow of Stardom, reveals how Bollywood star wives live their daily lives. Bhandarkar has described the project as Page 3 on steroids, a reference to his 2005 critically acclaimed exposé of Mumbai’s social elite.
The film aims to expose the ugly side and hidden traumas behind the power and public perception of the industry’s most influential spouses. The story will examine how people give up their personal belongings as they confront their fundamental selves and the mental challenges that arise from staying out of the spotlight.
The main cast includes Sonali Kulkarni and Mouni Roy, Regina Cassandra as the lead performer, and Rahul Bhatt as a major Bollywood character, alongside Saurabh Sachdeva, Arjan Bajwa, and Freddy Daruwala.
The Wives marks a cooperative production between Bhandarkar Entertainment and PJ Motion Pictures, marking the director’s second production partnership with Pranav Jain after India Lockdown in 2022.
The film now proceeds to its post-production stage, followed by its planned theatrical distribution in late 2026. The announcement did not include a specific release date.
Bhandarkar continues to investigate the hidden aspects of Indian celebrity culture through his new film, which will present a controversial view of Bollywood beyond its glamorous exterior.
