Stree: A Little Coffeeshop, The Failures And How A Ridiculous Story Became A Phenomenon
Today, Stree 2 is breaking all records. The Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, and Pankaj Tripathi movie is still maintaining its momentum at the box office, even after three weeks of release. However, two key names are missing from Stree 2’s success—Raj & DK, the acclaimed Bollywood writer-producer duo who started it all with Stree but were not involved in the making of the sequel. Their story of survival with Stree six years ago is nothing short of a phenomenon.
Seven years ago, the filmmaking duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, popularly known as Raj & DK, faced a career-defining moment after their film A Gentleman sank at the box office. “We knew what was coming,” Raj recalled, reflecting on their back-to-back failures, a situation that typically signals the end of a filmmaking career. However, instead of despairing, the two filmmakers decided to revisit their original ambitions of creating unique and unconventional films.
In a heartfelt post, Raj shared how, on a rainy day in August 2017, he sought solace in a tiny Andheri coffeeshop. With his laptop open, Raj began typing, “O Stree, Kal Aana,” inspired by an eerie childhood memory from his hometown of Tirupati. The phrase, a local urban legend scrawled across walls, warned of a mysterious woman who would enter homes if not deterred by the written plea to return the following day. Raj’s curiosity led him to wonder why the woman—this “Stree”—would be fooled by such a trick. “What if she can’t read Telugu? What if she still wanted to come inside?” he pondered.
As Raj and DK developed the idea, the simple story began to take on deeper dimensions. They envisioned a role reversal where men, rather than women, would be afraid to walk the streets at night. The concept became more than just a horror-comedy—it became a reflection on the everyday fears that women face in society. “We knew it couldn’t be just a silly horror film. It had to say something more,” Raj explained. This blending of horror with comedy and social commentary became the foundation for Stree.
The film was born out of an intense writing period, with Raj and DK working day and night, eventually completing the script in just three weeks. “A little coffeeshop called Potluck in Andheri West became our office,” Raj fondly recounted, describing how the space became a creative hub for them and their team. However, in an ironic twist, the coffeeshop was torn down just as the production began. Despite the loss of their favourite writing spot, the energy of Potluck stayed with them, guiding the project through its challenging shoot in the small town of Chanderi.
Raj & DK’s vision for Stree defied norms from the outset. The film was made on a modest budget, with no guarantee of success. “There was no precedent for this kind of film,” Raj admitted, yet the cast and crew were willing to take a chance. Shot in guesthouses and schools, with evenings spent playing Mafia games, the film’s creation was marked by an unpretentious camaraderie. And while the film underwent multiple edits and reworked intervals, the core story only grew stronger.
On 31st August 2018, Stree released to unprecedented success. The film’s unique blend of horror, humour, and cultural commentary struck a chord with audiences, quickly becoming a box-office phenomenon. “A ridiculous story, defying all odds, became a phenomenon,” Raj wrote. The film not only revived Raj & DK’s careers but also solidified their place as innovative storytellers in Indian cinema.
Stree’s success marked the beginning of a new era for Raj & DK’s production house, D2R Films. They went on to create critically acclaimed projects such as The Family Man, Farzi, and Guns & Gulaabs, all of which continued their commitment to telling unconventional stories. Reflecting on their journey, Raj noted, “It wouldn’t have been possible without that little coffeeshop, the failures, the hardships, and the firm belief that even our kind of stories can break mainstream norms.”
Despite not being involved in Stree 2, the legacy of Stree lives on, inspiring filmmakers to take risks and push boundaries in storytelling. As Raj succinctly put it, “Every failure is an opportunity to grow. And every heartbreak is a chance to cleanse and recreate.”
