YOU ASKED IT | 30 August, 2024

Now that two weeks are complete, do you think that Stree 2 will join the Rs. 500-crore club?

– Yes, it will. It has already almost touched Rs. 450 crore in domestic theatrical box-office takings, so another Rs. 60 crore in the following weeks is a given!

What is the difference between a sequel, franchise film and a film as part of a universe?

– Although the terms are used interchangeably, there is a difference between a sequel and a franchise film. Technically, a sequel must start where the first part ended. It is continuation of the same story with the same or almost the same characters. On the other hand, a franchise film is one which may or may not belong to the same world/era but would have at least one, two or more characters from the earlier part/s. However, the story is not necessarily in continuation of the earlier film/s in the franchise. A series film is also the same as a franchise film. A universe film is where characters of different films in the universe cross paths. To substantiate with examples, GADAR 2 was a sequel of GADAR EK PREM KATHA, RACE 2 was a sequel of RACE, and BAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION was a sequel of BAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING. On the other hand, DHOOM, HOUSEFULL and GOLMAAL films were franchise films whereas SINGHAM, SINGHAM 2, SIMBBA and SOORYAVANSHI were all films in Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe as they had characters of one film crossing paths with characters of other films in that universe. Likewise, STREE 2 was a Horror Comedy Universe film as characters from horror comedy BHEDIYA crossed paths with characters from STREE and STREE 2. Actually, STREE 2 is also a sequel and a franchise film, besides being a film in Jio and Dinesh Vijan’s Horror Comedy Universe. Similarly, TIGER, WAR, PATHAAN and now ALPHA are part of Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe.      

Is there a difference between casting for films and casting for web series?

– Yes, there is a marked difference between the two. For a web series’ casting, talent of the actors is of paramount importance whereas in the case of casting for films, both, talent and marketability (popularity/fan following) of the actors, are important.