Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s latest film, Stree 2, has made a significant impact at the Indian box office, overtaking Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal in earnings. According to film trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Stree 2 has now earned ₹583.35 crore nett in India after its fifth Monday in theaters. This horror-comedy, directed by Amar Kaushik and written by Niren Bhatt, is a sequel to the 2018 hit Stree. It features an ensemble cast including Aparshakti Khurrana, Abhishek Banerjee, and Pankaj Tripathi.
Stree 2 Outshines Animal
On Tuesday, Taran Adarsh shared an update on social media about Stree 2’s performance. He noted that despite the film’s box office numbers remaining steady since its fifth Friday, the business saw an uptick due to a “buy one get one free” ticket offer. The steady performance over the weekend suggests that the film might become the first Hindi film to cross the ₹600 crore mark. Here’s a breakdown of its earnings: ₹3.60 crore on Friday, ₹5.55 crore on Saturday, ₹6.85 crore on Sunday, and ₹3.17 crore on Monday, bringing the total to ₹583.35 crore.
Stree 2 vs. Animal and Jawan
In comparison, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan remains the highest-grossing Hindi film in India. Released on September 7, 2023, Jawan has collected ₹640.25 crore net in its lifetime according to Sacnilk.com. Jawan is Khan’s second film of the year, following Pathaan and Dunki, and also stars Nayanthara, and Vijay Sethupathi, and features a special appearance by Deepika Padukone.
Stree 2 has surpassed the earnings of Animal, which starred Ranbir Kapoor. Released on December 1, 2024, Animal had a total collection of ₹553.87 crore nett in India. The film, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, and Triptii Dimri. Despite its financial success, Animal faced criticism for its portrayal of violent and misogynistic themes.
Plot and Success of Stree 2
The original Stree focused on a female ghost who was wronged in her past life. In Stree 2, the story shifts to a new antagonist, a headless villain named Sarkata. Sarkata is depicted as abducting women who have a strong sense of independence. A key scene in the film shows Sarkata destroying the statue of Stree, the guardian of Chanderi, marking the start of his reign.
Director’s Take on the Film’s Success
In a recent interview with PTI, director Amar Kaushik expressed his surprise at the film’s success. “We had a party and enjoyed too much. We were confident that the film was good, but we didn’t expect these huge numbers,” he said. Kaushik admitted to being sleep-deprived due to the film’s success but plans to rest before starting work on his next project.
Stree 2 has achieved impressive box office numbers, placing it just behind Jawan as the highest-grossing Hindi film in India. With its ongoing success and strong performance, it’s set to make history in the Indian film industry.
