Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who starred in the massive Hindi film release Stree 2, has shared his perspective on the film’s success and Bollywood’s growing focus on sequels. Despite the film’s massive box office success, Tripathi remains grounded, emphasizing that one should not let success cloud their judgment. “It is a thing of great joy that a film of such a nominal budget became such a big blockbuster. But success should not affect your mind; there should always be a sense of balance,” he said.
Tripathi acknowledged the role of the Stree franchise in driving the film’s box office numbers. “The happiness the audience got from watching the first part played a huge role in bringing them to theaters for the sequel. Otherwise, people tend to wait for the weekend to end to know the reviews and performance. But for franchise films, that’s not the case,” he explained. The film’s established fanbase and the audience’s positive reception of the first installment undoubtedly contributed to the sequel’s immediate success.
Having been part of both successful and unsuccessful franchise films, Tripathi offered his insight into Bollywood’s obsession with sequels. He believes that making a franchise isn’t just about a film’s commercial success. “To create a successful franchise, you need a unique film. Sometimes a film is successful, but not unique. Stree fit both criteria, which is a big factor in its success,” he said.
This year saw a slew of blockbuster sequels, with films like Stree 2, Singham Again, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 leading the charge. However, despite these successes, Bollywood’s overall performance at the box office has been underwhelming. When asked about the disconnect between films and audiences, Tripathi attributed it to the unpredictable nature of the audience. “The audience changes its taste at any time. They decide based on the trailer. No amount of publicity, gimmicks, or stunts can sway them,” he noted.
Sharing a light-hearted anecdote about his experience on Stree 2, Tripathi recalled how the producers had promised him a bonus if the first Stree performed well. The bonus threshold was crossed within four days of the film’s release. “I didn’t even know when the same clause was put in my contract for Stree 2,” he laughed. “The figure for the sequel was crossed in just two days.”
Through it all, Tripathi remains focused on his craft and the unpredictable nature of both audiences and the film industry.