Director Madhur Bhandarkar has completed the shoot for his 16th directorial venture, "The Wives". The National Award-winning filmmaker, known for his hard-hitting, reality-inspired films such as "Fashion", "Chandni Bar", and "Heroine", shared the news on his Instagram handle on Wednesday.

The Instagram post featured a series of pictures of Bhandarkar with the film's cast and crew, along with an image of a cake that read "It's a wrap. 'The Wives',". Bhandarkar captioned the post, expressing his excitement about bringing the project to life and thanking the cast and crew for their unwavering support and dedication.

"Today marks the wrap-up of my 16th film, #TheWives, #IntheShadowofStardom, an original & captivating story set in the glamorous world of star wives that we have delved into," Bhandarkar wrote. "Bringing this project to life is beyond exciting. Your unwavering support means the world as we completed the principal photography of the film. Endless gratitude to the dedicated actors & technicians who poured their hearts day and night into this project. Thanks to the team of Bhandarkar Entertainment & PJ motion picture,".

"The Wives" delves "into the secret world of Bollywood star wives – a world brimming with scandal, gossip, and jaw-dropping luxury that few ever witness". Bhandarkar has described the film as a fearless exploration of the hidden battles, complexities, and inner strength of women whose voices are rarely given the space they deserve. He aims to strip away the surface glamour and reveal what's really going on beneath.

The film features an ensemble cast including Sonali Kulkarni, Mouni Roy, Regina Cassandra, Rahul Bhatt, Saurabh Sachdeva, Arjan Bajwa, and Freddy Daruwala. Mouni Roy also shared her excitement about the project on social media, posting a picture with Bhandarkar from the film's set and expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to work with him.

The film is jointly produced by Bhandarkar Entertainment and P J Motion Pictures. This marks Bhandarkar's second collaboration with producer Pranav Jain, following their work on the 2022 film "India Lockdown," which explored the human impact of the pandemic. Pranav Jain has expressed his admiration for Bhandarkar's ability to craft stories that challenge norms and provoke thought.

Shooting for "The Wives" officially began on July 8, 2025, in Mumbai. Bhandarkar had expressed his excitement about the project from its initial stages, noting that the story is set in the captivating world of glamour that he has been exploring for the last four years. Bhandarkar's last directorial venture was "Babli Bouncer", which was released in 2022 and starred Tamannaah Bhatia in the lead role. He also served as a producer on the Marathi film "Circuitt", released in 2023. With the shooting now complete, post-production work on "The Wives" will commence, and the film is expected to be released later this year.