Rajkummar Rao Acknowledges Team Effort Behind 'Stree 2' Success Amid Credit Debate

In 2024, Stree 2, produced by Maddock Films, made a remarkable impact at the box office, becoming one of the year's biggest commercial hits. The horror-comedy, which brought together laughter and chills, captivated audiences and amassed an impressive ₹857 crore worldwide. However, the film's massive success also sparked a debate among fans over who deserved the most credit.

Amid the growing discourse, lead actor Rajkummar Rao has addressed the issue, choosing to emphasize the importance of teamwork in the film’s success. In a recent interview with ETimes, the actor candidly spoke about not claiming full credit for the film’s accomplishments.

“Stree became Stree because people loved it so much. And I would be a fool to think that Stree worked because of me. It worked because of the story, because of the love the first part received. Of course, did I contribute as an actor? Yes, I did a lot. As Bikki, yes, I did a lot. But so did Amar, so did Deenu (Dinesh Vijan), so did all the departments involved in making that film,” he said.

Highlighting the collaborative nature of filmmaking, Rao added, "Because we are the faces on the posters, people start saying Stree this, Stree that," he reflected. "But yes, everybody works on the film. It’s a team effort. That doesn’t mean every film is going to be like that, because every film is different. Every film has its own destiny. As long as my films are making enough money for my producers not to incur losses, and we keep telling these stories — I’m very happy with that."

Stree 2 featured a strong ensemble cast, including Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, and Abhishek Banerjee in prominent roles. The film also included surprise cameo appearances by Akshay Kumar and Tamannaah Bhatia, which quickly became fan-favorite moments.

Looking ahead, Rajkummar Rao is set to appear in the upcoming comedy-drama Bhool Chuk Maaf. Directed by Karan Sharma and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, the film stars Wamiqa Gabbi and Seema Pahwa alongside Rao. It is slated for theatrical release on May 9.