Stree director Amar Kaushik reveals he never intended to start his career with horror film

Amar Kaushik, the talented director behind the blockbuster "Stree 2," has been celebrating the film's success, which has been warmly received by audiences worldwide. Speaking in an interview, he revealed, "We had a party and enjoyed too much. We were confident that the film was good but we didn't expect that it would get these big numbers."

After the excitement of the film's release and its near ?300 crore global earnings, Kaushik admits, "...I’m sleep deprived. I barely slept, so first I’ll sleep and then I’ll start thinking of my next movie."

Interestingly, Kaushik shared that horror was not his first choice for a debut film. He initially wanted to start his career with "Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga," featuring Rajkummar Rao, who later played the beloved tailor in the "Stree" franchise. "When ‘Stree’ released, it was my first film, I was very nervous. I never wanted to start my career with a horror film, that was the last thing I thought I would make," he confessed.

The success of "Stree," which opened with a modest ?6.5 to 7 crore and eventually grew to ?130 crore, was a pleasant surprise for Kaushik. He emphasized, "People are more intelligent than us as filmmakers, they understand when a film is offering them a new experience, which they felt during ‘Stree’."

Reflecting on the pressure to not become a one-hit-wonder, Kaushik said, "Luckily, my next film worked," referencing his 2019 hit "Bala," starring Ayushmann Khurrana. Now, Kaushik's focus is on providing the audience with fresh and exciting cinema. "I was also an audience member a few years back, and I was craving for good cinema, and something new. When I got the chance to make it, I tried to give something new," he added.

Born in Arunachal Pradesh and growing up in Kanpur, Kaushik's journey from being the son of a forest ranger and a school teacher to becoming a successful filmmaker is truly inspiring.