30 September,2026 10:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor (Pic via Instagram)
Fans waiting to return to the mysterious streets of Chanderi will have to wait a little longer. Stree 3, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, has been pushed back from its previously announced 2027 release and is now expected to reach theatres in 2028. Producer Dinesh Vijan has also teased that the next chapter could take the horror-comedy franchise in a direction audiences are not expecting.
The third instalment was originally announced for August 13, 2027, as part of Maddock Films' larger horror-comedy universe slate. However, speaking at FICCI Frames 2026, Vijan confirmed that the film will now arrive in 2028. An exact release date has not been announced. Vijan indicated that the makers could target either Independence Day or Christmas 2028, giving fans two possible festive windows to look forward to.
The delay is linked to director Amar Kaushik, who is currently preparing Mahavatar, another major Maddock Films project. Vijan explained that Kaushik remains central to the Stree franchise and will first complete the Vicky Kaushal-starrer before beginning work on Stree 3.
While the wait has become longer, Vijan's comments have added another layer of curiosity around the sequel. The producer revealed that the script has already been completed but warned fans against assuming they know what is coming. He said viewers should "remove" their existing theories from their minds, while teasing that the beginning and ending will be a "complete revelation". That mystery could become one of the biggest talking points around the film as production approaches.
Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor are expected to reprise their roles in the third film. The franchise began with Stree in 2018 before Stree 2 expanded its supernatural world in 2024. The films are part of Maddock Films' interconnected horror-comedy universe, which also includes Bhediya and Munjya.
Stree 2 became a major box-office success, increasing expectations around the third chapter. Akshay Kumar, whose character became an important part of the franchise's mythology in Stree 2, is also expected to return.
With filming expected to begin towards the end of 2027, Stree 3 is still some distance away. But Vijan's promise of a story that audiences will not see coming has already given the delayed release a new talking point. For now, one thing is clear: the next Stree chapter is taking longer to arrive, but the makers are keeping its biggest secrets firmly locked away.
