The Hindi horror-comedy universe just turned two “will they, won’t they” projects into a proper slate. At FICCI Frames 2026, producer Dinesh Vijan and actor Rajkummar Rao confirmed the film-by-film road ahead: Vicky Kaushal’s Mahavatar begins filming at the end of January 2027, and Stree 3 goes on floors by the end of that year.
Mahavatar first, then the sequel
Dinesh Vijan described Amar Kaushik as “the most integral part of Stree and the entire horror comedy franchise.” The director will move from that franchise into Mahavatar, which Vijan called “Bhagwan Parshuram’s story,” shooting from January-end to June. Only after that does Stree 3 begin production, with the producer targeting a 2028 theatrical release and a holiday window: “a nice Independence Day or Christmas day release in 2028.”
The franchise math behind the confidence
Rajkummar Rao framed how much the universe has grown. Stree (2018) began as an independent small-budget film and collected roughly Rs. 70-75 crores, a figure that once made first-time theatrical director Amar Kaushik nervous. By Stree 2 (2024), the sequel was a Rs. 500 crore plus grosser, and the director’s reaction, Rao said, had changed to “Aur kamaye.” In between, Kaushik delivered Bala (2019) and Bhediya (2022).
What Stree 3 is promising
Dinesh Vijan was careful not to hand out spoilers — he joked that Kaushik believes he already gives too many. But he did offer one instruction for fans: “Anything you have thought, remove that from your mind.” The screenplay has just been completed, and the producer says Stree 3 will keep everything audiences loved while making the film’s opening and ending “a complete revelation.”
The known cast is Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee, with Akshay Kumar expected to play a key role. Mahavatar, meanwhile, has Vicky Kaushal leading as Parshuram.
Why this matters for your watchlist
The timeline arrived while the actor and producer were at FICCI Frames 2026 to promote their upcoming film Prahaar. What started as a Prahaar conversation quickly became a Stree-universe state of the union — and the clearest window yet for two of Bollywood’s most awaited films.
The update gives fans a clear order of events rather than vague social-media noise. Mahavatar is now an early-2027 shoot to track for first looks and casting updates; the Stree 3 wait has a visible end point in 2028. It also signals that the franchise is being built around a major theatrical window, with holiday dates kept open.
- Mahavatar: Vicky Kaushal in the lead; shoot starts January-end 2027.
- Stree 3: Shoot begins end-2027; release likely Independence Day or Christmas 2028.
- Creative anchor: Amar Kaushik directs both, preserving the tone fans love.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
