EXCLUSIVE | Rajkummar Rao on the historic success of 'Stree 2': 'It's a clear run for next couple of weeks, part three will be bigger because…'

Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor starrer Stree 2 has refused to slow down at the box office. After enjoying a record-breaking extended opening weekend, the horror-comedy has entered the Rs 400-crore club in a span of just 12 days, which is nothing less than historic.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the leading man spoke about the success of the sequel, playing the unforgettable character of Vicky again, his three consecutive hits of 2024, and what we can expect in part three.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Right on the first day you scored a half century. Were you expecting such massive numbers?

I was expecting that people would go and watch the film. I know that the fan base of Stree is huge. But to have these kind of numbers even on weekdays was unexpected. We are super elated that it’s happening with our film.

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And now it’s entered the 400 crore club. How does it feel?

I don’t sit back and think behind box office numbers, I’m not the box office kind of a guy (smiles). But I’m aware that it’s doing well ever since the weekend has started and it’s a clear run in a way for the next couple of weeks.

It has been a great year for you with three successes. How do you look back?

I always wanted to do this kind of work. I would love to do a Srikanth which is a biopic or a Mr and Mrs Mahi which is an internal relationship drama and then Stree which is a horror comedy which of course is my own franchise. I want to explore different genres, I want to try different things as an actor. I want to challenge myself, surprise myself, and also surprise my audience. That’s the fun of being an actor otherwise sometimes it can get monotonous.

Vicky is a character who has a terrific chemistry with everyone his friends with Shraddha. How was your approach to this character?

He’s such a simpleton and a guy with a pure heart. That is one of his superpowers that he is not corrupt at all. I’ve worked on the relationships a lot in many of my films. People react differently to different people. His relationship will be completely different with Rudra Bhaiyaa as compared to his daddy, or Bittu or Jana and with Shraddha it will be completely different. I work on the relationships a lot because it helps me navigate through my scenes.

The special effects of Stree 2 are really impressive be it the character of Sarkata or the scene when you and Shraddha you both merge into one. Can you give us a glimpse of how the whole team prepped to make the sequel grander more visually delightful?

There was a lot of prep and the credit goes to Amar. He was the one who visualized it, made it happen and he was the one who worked the hardest. It is not easy for a VFX heavy film to release in just a couple of months. We preponed the release of the film. It was not easy for him, but he managed somehow. Even I was waiting to see how it all happens because we were shooting separately me and Shraddha. This was the first time I was a part of such a VFX heavy film so it was fun for me to explore. I was asking a lot of questions to learn as much as possible.

There are certain films that sound and look great on paper but sometimes the execution falters. With the kind of response both the Strees have got. We do get a sense that the films have got the writing and execution right. While shooting these films were you also aware that this is going in the right direction.

We were having lots and lots of fun. And because we all were having so much fun while shooting it, we were confident that all of this would translate to the audiences. And that’s exactly what happened. We improvised a lot. It is so much fun to be a part of a film like this because the madness is real. You have to be on the sets to be able to experience it.

What are the kind of plays you have acted in during your NSD days?

I’m actually from FTII but I did my theatre in Delhi during my graduation in college Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College. I was also working at Sriram Centre Mandi House. So I did all kinds of plays, mostly dramas. I did my first play at the age of 16-17 and that gave me a lot of confidence, the feel of being another person on stage. And then film institute completely changed my life. The exposure to International cinema and actors, the deep understanding, that came from FTII.

Naseeruddin Shah once said acting can be learned but it cannot be taught. How did you absorb the art of acting?

You learn a lot by just watching. I used to watch at least one or two films a day when we were studying. Also, we would discuss a particular scene during our classes. But apart from the classes, you learn a lot by reading, by watching. A lot of work was happening even during our classes with some lovely acting teachers. You also watch a lot of interviews where actors are talking about how they prepared for a particular character. You learn about the technique and the learning is never ending.

Hansal Mehta once said the courtroom scene between you and Vipin Sharma in Shahid was improvised. It all happened right there.

The whole film was improvised. Most of it was happening right there. Hansal sir used to put us in situations and because we knew our characters so well, we just used to fight the case. I did my research really well so I would argue. But Hansal sir doesn’t say cut easily, he wants to push us, and take it forward.

What are your memories of that film and playing that character?

I love that character. It was not easy making that film because we made the entire film in just 65 lakhs. We hardly had any money and we finish the entire film in nine months. We would wait for the money to come and then start shooting and then the money wouldn’t come and then again we used to wait. But we had a great time making that film because we had a story and fire in our bellies. I was coming into the film as an actor who did LSD and Ragini MMS, and small parts here and there. We told this story with utmost sincerity. We both got our first National awards and I got a Filmfare. In a way, the industry noticed me with that film.

We now get Akshay Kumar in the end credits of Stree 2, which hints at part three. How excited are you?

I don’t know yaar, it’s still running in cinemas so too early to say. Amar has some ideas that he wants to work on. I won’t say everything is concrete but it’ll be bigger than part two.