Stree 2 Success Belongs To? Aparshakti Says 'Popularity Is PR Game', Questions Social Media Campaign

Stree 2 has emerged as a big box office success after its release on August 15. According to the makers, the horror comedy has grossed over ₹500 crore worldwide after 10 days of hitting the big screens. While the movie continues to taste success, there has been a raging debate among netizens and moviegoers about the screentime of Shraddha Kapoor, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee and who is the real face of the film.

While many are crediting the film's success to Shraddha, others have called it a Rajkummar Rao film, arguing that the actress' screentime was way less in the movie to be its leading face. In a new interview, Aparshakti, who plays the role of Bittoo in the film, talked about the popularity of the actors on social media driven by PR agencies as opposed to how loved they are among the real audiences.

'Popularity is a PR game'

Aparshakti recently talked about Shraddha Kapoor being "more popular" than the other actors in Stree 2. “Gaining more popularity is a PR game. Does the original audience, who have a face, say the same thing? I love each and every actor of my film and I'm equally attached to them. But in a happy space where the film has got such numbers, talking about this may appear slightly off and hurtful. If these conversations come up, you have to take a side as well. I don't want to take anybody's side. They are all equally close to me. I believe in the journey of an actor. Someone might dance well, look well, sing well or act well or same do their PR well. There are a lot of talents through which a journey is complete. I wouldn't call PR my strongest part.”

Amar Kaushik on Aparshakti Khurana and Shraddha Kapoor's limited screentime

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Stree 2 director defended Shraddha and Aparshakti's limited screentime in the film, saying, “We write what is required. We don’t think, ‘Yeh actor bura maan jaayega, yeh role bada hai, yeh role chota hai (an actor would feel bad, this role is big, this role is small)’.” 

"For us, the Bible is the script and things have to be organic. My producer also has given me freedom in this regard," he added.