EXCLUSIVE: Taran Adarsh calls Stree 2 success a “Sholay moment,” explains how Rajkummar Rao-Shraddha Kapoor starrer is above Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, renowned film trade analyst Taran Adarsh likened the unprecedented success of Stree 2 to a “Sholay moment” for its creators. The film, produced by Dinesh Vijan, Jyoti Deshpande, and directed by Amar Kaushik, has exceeded expectations, even surpassing the collections of blockbuster hits like Pathaan, Gadar 2, and Jawan in pure Hindi market numbers.

Reflecting on the rare success of the film, Adarsh explained, “When a film succeeds, you can’t say it’s because of one person alone. If that kind of ‘I’ mentality takes over, it’s just arrogance. A movie doesn’t run just because of one person; it resonates with audiences because of its overall appeal. If anyone claimed Sholay was successful solely because of characters like Thakur or Jai-Veeru, they’d be mistaken. It was a beautifully written film by Salim-Javed that everyone enjoyed in totality.”

Adarsh expressed that while some actors may want to take individual credit for a film’s success, he felt it was crucial to acknowledge the collaborative efforts that bring such a project to fruition. He praised producers Dinesh Vijan and Jyoti Deshpande, and director Amar Kaushik, for their vision in bringing Stree 2 to life, saying, “Credit should first go to the producers and the director. They took the initial steps to green light this film and bring it forward in this way. The film isn’t just successful; it’s thriving!”

The film critic further elaborated on how Stree 2 broke barriers in terms of box office performance, despite being a Hindi-only release, unlike Jawan, which benefited from Tamil and Telugu versions. He stated, “This film didn’t have Tamil or Telugu versions, and even without those, it’s the number one Hindi film of all time. That’s a massive achievement, to even be mentioned in the same breath as films like Jawan, Pathaan, and Gadar 2. Who could have predicted Stree 2 would achieve such phenomenal business?”

In particular, Adarsh explained that the film’s earnings, which have surpassed Rs 600 crores, are nothing short of remarkable. He noted, “No one could have imagined this kind of success, not even the producers. Of course, everyone hopes for success, and dreams of Rs 100, 200, or 300 crores, but Rs 600+ crores a film like this is a Sholay moment for the producers. It’s very rare to find a film which proves all calculation, every prediction wrong, no superstars, nothing and by a wide margin.”

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