‘Stree,’ Indian Horror Hit Film, Set for Multiple Sequels, Targets Return to Madhya Pradesh

As a cinephile with a penchant for Bollywood, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement when I heard about the potential upcoming sequels to “Stree 2,” India’s second highest grossing film of 2024! Having grown up in Goa, I remember the initial plans for “Stree” to be set there, and it’s fascinating to see how the story found its roots in Madhya Pradesh instead.

This year’s biggest Bollywood blockbuster, “Stree 2,” which has also become India’s second highest-grossing film of 2024, is likely to be followed by one or more sequels, according to its director Amar Kaushik, as he announced this on Wednesday.

Kaushik delivered a talk at a Knowledge Series event, an integral component of the Film Bazaar initiative, which coincides with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa.

Kaushik mentioned that they have ideas for stories ready and plan to start filming soon; however, there’s no fixed schedule as of yet. The production will undoubtedly take place in Madhya Pradesh, with a possibility of exploring other regions within the state as well,” (paraphrased version)

Kaushik shared that it wasn’t Madhya Pradesh where he initially visualized creating the horror-comedy we saw debut in 2018, which later led to a sequel released just recently.

Originally, “Stree” was intended to be filmed in Goa. However, we decided to move production to the heart of India, specifically Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh. I wanted to steer clear of typical horror tropes and opted for a city setting instead of a beach or haunted house. In Chanderi, we discovered an abundance of possibilities; every alleyway and street seemed to whisper to me. I plan to shoot “Stree 3” or “Stree 4” there once more.

The seminar, designed to highlight Madhya Pradesh’s advantages as a setting for film and television productions, discussed topics like financial perks, site exploration, and artistic abilities.

In 2020, the government started offering movie-making incentives, and it’s anticipated that they will broaden these incentives even more in the coming time.

As a movie buff putting on my thinking cap, I’d say: “I, always eager for fresh perspectives, am open to brainstorming groundbreaking ideas regarding our tourism and cultural policies in Madhya Pradesh. We’re currently working on refining them, but the journey of innovation is never-ending.

He claimed that the incentives, breadth of locations and its location services make the state the most film friendly in India. Locations can be scouted from a film promotion website and there is a “film facilitation cell that can help explore beyond the easy and obvious.” He also said that the state is a safe destination for women and that more women are being trained to be in the front line of tourism and film facilitation.

Aparna Purohit, who currently leads Aamir Khan Productions after working at Netflix, previously oversaw the production of Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladals” in Bhopal. She also expressed high compliments about her experience there. “Within an 80-kilometer range of Bhopal, we found everything we required. In actuality, we were searching for just two items but ended up finding ten,” she stated.

Acting alongside Nitanshi Goel in the lead roles are some incredibly gifted local actors. This movie has been selected to represent India for the category of Best International Film at the Oscars this year.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about the evolution of our beloved art form in Madhya Pradesh. After 16 years of nurturing talent at the Madhya Pradesh Natya Vidyalaya drama school in Bhopal, we are now on the brink of a significant milestone – upgrading the school to a full-fledged university!

2024-11-21 14:16

‘Stree,’ Indian Horror Hit Film, Set for Multiple Sequels, Targets Return to Madhya Pradesh

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