Movie Review: Stree 2 Can Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s *Stree 2* Live Up to the Original?
*Stree 2* begins in the familiar setting of Chanderi village. Stree, who once protected the village, suddenly disappears one night, leaving the village vulnerable to a new threat—a headless ghost known as *Sarkata*. This sinister spirit kidnaps girls at night, taking them to another dimension where no one can reach them.
The sequel is directed by Amar Kaushik, who also helmed the original *Stree*. The characters in this universe were created by Raj & DK, while the story for the sequel is penned by Niren Bhatt, known for *Bala* and *Bhediya*. The makers had a significant challenge—meeting the expectations set by the original *Stree*, which garnered a huge fan following. Iconic scenes like “Bikki, please” and “Aankhon mein pyaar se dekho, woh pyaar ki bhooki hai” went viral. Aware of the audience’s high expectations,
the makers took a safe route, focusing heavily on fan service, with numerous callbacks to the first film. The famous “Bikki, please” scene is there, as is the “Aankhon mein pyaar se dekho” sequence. Where the first film had the dance number “Kamariya,” this time, it’s replaced by “Aaj Ki Raat.”
**Stree 2**
*Director*: Amar Kaushik
*Cast*: Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, and Shraddha Kapoor
*Rating*: 3.5 Stars
Though the film revisits old scenes, it introduces them with fresh twists, ensuring they don’t feel like mere copy-paste jobs. This approach earns applause and cheers from the audience. The humor in *Stree 2* remains unfiltered. In one instance, Vicky jokes with his friend Bittu (played by Aparshakti Khurana), “Your name is Bittu, so your girlfriend calls you ‘Bits.’ Good thing your name isn’t Titu!”
At another point, Vicky’s father comments, “Virgin oil is good, not the male,” triggering laughter from the audience. There’s a scene where Vicky and his gang visit a mental hospital, which is reminiscent of the David Dhawan comedies from the ’90s, albeit with a modern twist.
Niren Bhatt’s writing doesn’t shy away from such humor, and it pays off with big laughs. The film also makes room for meta-commentary. At one point, Pankaj Tripathi’s character, Rudra, says, “I am an old man.” Vicky responds, “Oh, you’re Atal,” a nod to Tripathi’s role as Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the recent film *Main Atal Hoon*.
*Stree 2* is designed as an event film, blending horror-comedy with mass appeal moments. Shraddha Kapoor’s proper entry scene is a prime example, where she gets a full-on hero treatment in an action sequence—one of the film’s highlights. The film also benefits from surprise cameos. Overall,
*Stree 2* is a fun and entertaining watch, but it doesn’t quite measure up to the original. The first film was created without the pressure of expectations, leading to a fresh and original experience. In contrast, the sequel leans heavily on the success of the first.
**Performances**:
Rajkummar Rao maintains his consistent performance, effortlessly portraying the innocence of his character, Vicky. In one scene, he elevates the acting bar with four different expressions. Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, and Aparshakti Khurana deliver as much as their roles demand. However, Abhishek Banerjee deserves special mention. He plays Jana, a gullible character easily fooled by Vicky and Bittu. From his walk to his dialogue delivery, everything about Banerjee screams “Jana.”
Before the press screening of *Stree 2*, another film titled *Veda* was shown, in which Abhishek played the villain. The contrast between his roles in both films showcases his versatility as an actor. Whether it’s the horror or comedy in *Stree 2*, the film keeps you engaged, offering the kind of entertainment that draws people to theaters.
