Stree 2, the much-anticipated sequel starring Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, has taken the box office by storm. The horror-comedy has not only captivated audiences with its unique blend of scares and laughs but also sparked an interesting conversation about its portrayal of female characters. While Shraddha’s character plays a pivotal role in rescuing Vicky and his crew, director Amar Kaushik insists that the film is much more than just ‘female-centric.’
In a candid interview with the Indian Express, Amar Kaushik was asked if Stree 2 could be labeled as a ‘female-centric’ film. His response? “I won’t call it a female-centric film; it is more.” Kaushik emphasized that while the women in his films, including Stree 2, are portrayed as strong and vital to the storyline, the film’s essence goes beyond traditional gender-centric labels. He highlighted a scene where a female character leads the boys to safety, a subtle yet powerful moment that showcases the strength of his female protagonists, “In the film, the female characters are stronger. We have a female saving the men in the film,’ he explained.
However, Kaushik is quick to clarify that Stree 2 isn’t about setting up a gender rivalry. “I wouldn’t describe the film as ‘female-centric’ or ‘male-centric,’” he explained. Instead, his aim has always been to craft female characters who are robust and impactful, a trend visible in his previous works like ‘Bala’ and ‘Bhediya’.
Amar Kaushik stated, “Around the interval, when there is a song, a woman is gesturing to the boys to go and hide and they do so behind a bangle shop. So, I would say it is not a female-centric or a male-centric film. In my films, I try to have stronger female characters than my male characters, whether it is in Bala, Stree or Bhediya, and now Stree 2.’”
The success of Stree 2, according to Kaushik, isn’t just down to one character or even one gender. He praised the collective efforts of his star-studded cast—Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Abhishek Banerjee, Aparshakti Khurana, and Pankaj Tripathi—whom he described as the ‘souls’ of the movie. But the accolades didn’t stop there; he also acknowledged the behind-the-scenes heroes, the technicians, without whom, he says, the film wouldn’t have been the same.
Stree 2 picks up the story a year after the original ‘Stree’, introducing a new villain, Sarkata, who is terrorizing the young girls of Chanderi. Adding to the film’s star power, Varun Dhawan, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Akshay Kumar make significant cameo appearances, adding another layer of excitement to the already gripping storyline.
Released on August 15, 2024, Stree 2 faced stiff competition at the box office, clashing with ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Vedaa’. Despite the crowded release window, Stree 2 has emerged as a box office juggernaut, proving once again that a well-crafted story with strong, multidimensional characters—regardless of gender—can resonate with audiences and dominate the cinematic landscape.
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