Stree 2 has an ensemble star cast and everyone had a contribution in its blockbuster success. However, the one actor who also deserves credit is Bhumi Rajgor. In a way, she played the title as she is the one who plays the role of Stree. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the chirpy actress, currently in Ahmedabad, spoke about how she landed the role and a lot more.
EXCLUSIVE: Bhumi Rajgor aka Stree of Stree 2 discusses possibility of fighting Akshay Kumar in 3rd part: “I am scared because…”; reveals her FUNNY audition story: “I was told to scream at the TOP of my voice; neighbours wondered, ‘Kisi ka khoon ho raha hai kya?’”
How has your life changed since Stree 2 was released on August 15?
I had heard of actors getting overnight success and I didn’t believe that it was possible. And I anyway didn’t expect it would happen as my face was not seen in the movie. Even while shooting, I assumed that some might try to find out who’s the actor playing Stree. I saw the film on August 14. When I woke up on August 15, I was flooded with phone calls from 8:00 am. I was told that I am all over the internet and that there were 50 articles on me. I was like, ‘My face is not even seen in the movie. How did people find out?’ (laughs). I was overwhelmed.
How easy or difficult was it to get the role?
I feel blessed as all roles have come to me very easily. Last year in April, I got a message for an audition on WhatsApp. It was for the character of Chitti. I was asked to enact a scene from director Amar Kaushik sir’s earlier movie Bala (2019). I sent it and didn’t get any update for a month. I assumed that I must have not been selected. One fine day, the casting person called me and said that the makers loved my audition and wanted to offer me a more significant role. They also added ‘Lekin iss role mein aapki shakal nahin dikhegi’! I was puzzled. He explained, ‘Yeh ek horror movie hai’. Still, I couldn’t connect that it was for Stree 2. He convinced me by saying, ‘The production house is nice. Aur aapke bina movie ban hi nahin sakti’! I was still confused but agreed. He then told me ‘Aapke serious, gusse waale videos humko bhejiye’. I sent and 3 days later, I was told to meet Amar sir.
I was convinced it was a prank. After all, if my role was not going to be visible, why would ‘the’ Amar Kaushik meet me? Nevertheless, I took the risk. I came down from Ahmedabad and stood outside Maddock Films’ office. I feared that when I tried to enter the premises, the security person would throw me out. He would tell me, ‘Aap kahan munh uthe ke aa gaye ho’ (laughs).
However, they were indeed expecting me. I was taken to the 7th floor. Amar sir told me that he has shortlisted me for Stree. I didn’t know how to react. I ended up asking, ‘Title role? Woh bhi mujhe? Lekin kyun!’. He replied, ‘What do you mean kyun? Aapka audition accha laga’! I clarified that I couldn’t believe it. I also added, ‘Maine suna hai ki bahut struggle karni padti hai. Aur aap mujhe aise hi title role de rahe ho’! He asked me if I wanted to make some effort to bag the role. I answered, ‘Yes, thodi mehnat toh karu na main’! He told me to scream with all my might. I wondered why he said so. He explained, ‘Aapko film mein yehi karna hai’. I agreed.
He told the ADs to first open all the windows; or else, the sound would have reverberated. As instructed, I screamed at the top of my voice. The residents in the neighbouring building opened their windows in horror. They wondered, ‘Kisi ka khoon ho raha hai kya?’! Then Amar sir told me, ‘Perfect hai. Yehi karna hai aapko movie mein’. The ADs meanwhile offered me water as my face turned red due to the screaming (laughs).
How many days did you shoot for the film?
I shot for 15-20 days between July and December 2023/January 2024. I shot for a few days in Mumbai followed by Chanderi and then again we shot in Mumbai.
Is it true that the song ‘Gumnaam Hai Koi’ would be played when you would enter the sets?
(Laughs). Yes. They have a rule. Whenever the actor comes on the set, a song related to his or her character is played. Since I was a ghost, they played songs like ‘Gumnaam Hai Koi’. Then, that actor is supposed to dance to it and others also join in. It was the first time I saw something like this happening on the set. It built a fun mood.
It is a trend nowadays to not give the complete script to the actors, especially when they are shooting for highly awaited films. Did the same happen to you as well?
Yes. With me, they had to be very careful as it was the main secret of the film. After all, everyone assumed that Shraddha was Stree. Hence, the truth that she is not Stree shouldn’t have leaked at any cost. Hence, I never read the script. I was allowed to read it only during the climax shoot, that too in the AD’s phone.
Varun Dhawan makes a grand entry in the climax of Stree 2. Did you get a chance to shoot with him?
No. A huge soft toy of Bhediya was there on the set but not him. His shot was filmed differently.
In Stree 3, are you now going to fight Akshay Kumar?
I have no idea. I am sure Stree 3 will happen looking at the super-success and the Marvel kind of universe that they have created. I am actually going to be scared because he’s (Akshay Kumar) a martial art expert (laughs).
Your debut Gujarati film Fakt Mahilao Maate (2022) starred Amitabh Bachchan. Did you get a chance to shoot with him or meet him?
Unfortunately, I did not. In fact, I had no idea that he was even in the movie! I shot my part and then I was in Kochi shooting for another project. That’s when the makers of Fakt Mahilao Maate put out the announcement poster. I was in a houseboat and the moment I saw the poster, I started screaming. Everyone in the boat was alarmed, wondering what happened to me! When I told them that Bachchan sir was in my movie, they asked me, ‘And you didn’t know about it?’! But that’s because his appearance was kept a secret. Hence, I don’t think a lot of actors of the film also knew that he was in the cast. Nevertheless, I feel blessed that I get to work in films starring the topmost actors.
This reminds me that you were also a part of Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023), starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani…
For that, I didn’t even have to give an audition. The casting guy told me that they are looking for an actor who looks like Kiara Advani’s best friend! I was told to send pictures in a wedding outfit as that was the requirement of the scene. I agreed and also asked whether they needed an audition video. They declined. I sent my picture and I was told that I was selected. The experience was lovely and we had dhamaal on the sets. Supriya Pathak and I go back a long way. That added to the fun and also shooting with Gajraj Rao and Siddharth Randeria.
Have you worked with Supriya Pathak before?
I was a make-up artist before I became an actor. She had come to Ahmedabad to shoot a Gujarati film, Kehvatlal Parivar (2022). It was peak Covid time and we had not yet been administered vaccines. She was clear that very few people would come near her and touch her. Since I was doing her make-up, we spent a lot of time together. On the first day, she told me that since there was a fear that outside food could cause Covid, she was going to only eat the 50 theplas, which she bought, for a month. I was like ‘You can’t only eat theplas for a month’. I further told her that my maharaj (cook) would cook nice, healthy Gujarati food for her and that she should try it.
She did and she loved it. She told me, ‘I married in a Punjabi household. I had such great Gujarati food long back when my mother used to cook for us’. She further said that she’d only eat the food cooked in my house until the end of the shoot. I was more than happy. This made our bond special.
Even now when she comes to Ahmedabad, she’d ask me to tell my maharaj to prepare handvo, dhokla and sweet dal for her (smiles).
Has she seen Stree 2?
I don’t know. I feel a bit shy about telling people to watch my film. However, I did tell Gajraj Rao. We have also become very close during the shoot of Satyaprem Ki Katha. He used to pull my leg saying ‘Tu sirf Supriya ko Gujarati khana khilati hai. Mujhe nahin khilati hai’!
I informed him that I am in Stree 2 and he said, ‘Mujhe horror film se darr lagta hai. I am not watching in cinemas’!
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Rajkummar Rao says Stree 2 co-star Pankaj Tripathi can throw “really heavy lines in a very nonchalant way”; lauds his talent
More Pages: Stree 2 Box Office Collection , Stree 2 Movie Review
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