Dinesh Vijan explains why 'Stree 3' won't release in 2026
What's the story
Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films has been celebrated for its quality content since its inception. The production house took a new direction in 2018 with the release of Stree, directed by Amar Kaushik. This marked the beginning of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. In a recent interview on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, Vijan spoke about how he achieved this and why Stree 3 won't be released next year.
Universe creation
Film universe advice from Nolan's producer, Chuck Roven
Vijan revealed that the idea of creating a film universe came from advice he received from Chuck Roven, producer of Christopher Nolan's films. "Someone very wise told me that when you're making films, keep them in a box. And he told Deepika (Padukone) and me this in 2012, and it stayed with me." "So when Stree happened, I understood. There should be an ability to meet. Don't change the physics if you want some people to meet."
Release strategy
Why 'Stree 3' won't be released next year
Vijan emphasized the importance of variety in his films. He said, "They are completely different worlds... So we are very conscious not to repeat." "That is why we're not bringing Stree 3 next year, you know, which most people would want to do." "Even us. It just makes more sense to come. There's a journey to it."
Future plans
'The universe is a family'
Vijan envisions his film universe as a big family with different characters. He said, "So we are trying to... the way I look at it is, I'm from a joint family. We love a big family atmosphere." "So, the universe is a family and it's got different kinds of characters. No one's similar." He added that every character in this universe is unique and not one size fits all.
Future projects
Upcoming films in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe
The Maddock Horror Comedy Universe has an exciting lineup of upcoming films. These include Shakti Shalini, starring Aneet Padda; Varun Dhawan's Bhediya 2; and Chamunda, which reportedly features Alia Bhatt. The universe will also see Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao reprising their roles in Stree 3. Other anticipated projects are Maha Munjya, Pehla Mahayudh, and Doosara Mahayudh. The latest movie in the franchise is Ayushmann Khurrana's Thamma, released on Diwali.