Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha was supposed to be a straight shot to an August 28, 2026, box office premiere, but the biographical project just hit a serious political wall. The Nationalist Congress Party Film and Cultural Department stepped in this week with a formal objection to the movie’s title. They are demanding the producers rename the feature to properly honor the film’s subject, the legendary Tamasha and Lavani dancer Vithabai Narayangaonkar. And this isn’t just a fringe political complaint. Vithabai’s actual descendants threw their full weight behind the NCP’s demands to rename the film to Vitha or Vithabai.
Vithabai’s sons, Kailash and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, alongside her grandson Mohit, publicly aligned with the political push. NCP Maharashtra State President Babasaheb Patil also joined the chorus. He emphasized that Vithabai’s cultural legacy requires a title that reflects her direct name with respect. The family’s public support for the title change and details of a historical teaser scene surfaced rapidly as pressure mounts on the studio.
That private teaser screening is largely what accelerated the controversy. The footage reportedly shows a visceral, historically documented moment from Vithabai’s life. Audiences saw her performing in the late stages of pregnancy, going backstage to give birth, cutting the umbilical cord with a stone, and walking right back onto the stage. The intense portrayal has only fueled the family’s desire for a more direct tribute in the title.
Eetha remains a high-stakes release for Maddock Films and director Laxman Utekar. The studio brought in Randeep Hooda and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub to star alongside Kapoor. So far, the production house has kept entirely quiet. The initial friction from the NCP regarding the title row was verified according to Bollywood Hungama. With the August release date closing in, the studio has to decide whether to hold its ground or rebrand the entire project.