'Stree 2' credit row: Abhishek Banerjee denies rift among cast
What's the story
Following the release of Stree 2 on August 15, a debate erupted online over who deserved more credit for the film's success—Shraddha Kapoor or Rajkummar Rao.
However, actor Abhishek Banerjee, a key member of the ensemble cast, has now stepped forward to clarify that there is no "war" among the cast members.
He emphasized that cinema is primarily a director's medium and any film's success should be attributed to its director.
Director's medium
'We have to grow up as an audience and industry'
Banerjee told PTI, "There's enough camaraderie between all of us... It's easy for us to associate credit with actors, but we have to grow up as an audience and industry. That cinema is a director's medium, that's it. There's no debate."
He further added, "If something is working or not, it's because of the director."
The film has been directed by Amar Kaushik and written by Niren Bhatt.
Credit distribution
'Director is the captain': Banerjee on credit distribution
"That's how simple the credit game is. We complicate it because we love hero worship in this country. Director is the captain," Banerjee stated.
He further explained that staff members and crew would agree that it's Kaushik, Bhatt, and producer Dinesh Vijan who deserve recognition first before it trickles down to actors like him.
The film has been a box office success, grossing over ₹600 crore in Indian theaters so far.
No war
'We all really love and respect each other'
Banerjee added, "The 'war' gets created. When two people's PRs will work and if people will call it war, I don't understand. We all love and respect each other. Suddenly after the film's success, you want to associate it with some negativity."
"Shraddha is doing well, Raj celebrated his birthday, Apar is chilling with his family, I'm chilling with my friends, but the world is saying there's some kind of war."
"Everybody is living in peace, where is the war?"