Vicky Kaushal will headline the mythic Mahavatar, while Amar Kaushik readies Stree 3 for a festive 2028 debut, according to producers at FICCI Frames.
The first official word on Vicky Kaushal’s next big picture landed at FICCI Frames 2026. Producer Dinesh Vijan announced that the Mahavatar shoot will roll out in late January 2027, with the schedule pencilled to wrap by June. The film, billed as a retelling of the Bhagwan Parshuram saga, places Kaushal front‑and‑center.
"Amar Kaushik is the most integral part of Stree and the entire horror comedy franchise. He directs our most ambitious film in January end, Mahavatar, which is Bhagwan Parshuram's story," Vijan told the gathering. He added that the director plans to finish Mahavatar by mid‑year and then shift gears to the third instalment of the Stree universe.
Production Timeline
Stree 3 is slated to go on floors toward the end of 2027, Vijan said, with a release window that could land on either Independence Day or Christmas 2028. The exact date remains under wraps, but the producer hinted that the film will deliver “everything you have loved about it” while also throwing in fresh twists.
Rajkummar Rao, who promoted Prahaar alongside Vijan, reminisced about the original Stree’s modest beginnings. "Stree (2018) started as an independent small budget film. But we all had great faith in the story and in Amar Kaushik. He's hilarious. He's like us," Rao said, recalling the camaraderie on set. He also recalled the surprise box‑office numbers, noting the first film’s ₹70‑75 crore haul.
The sequel, Stree 2, blew past the ₹500 crore mark, a milestone Rao highlighted while discussing Kaushik’s reaction to the success. "At that time, he was prepared. Then, he was like 'Aur kamaye'!" Rao laughed, underscoring the director’s appetite for bigger projects.
Mahavatar’s ensemble will feature familiar faces from the Stree franchise. While the source mentions Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee joining the cast, it also teases a “key role” for Akshay Kumar, though details are still under negotiation.
The dual‑track plan — Mahavatar first, Stree 3 later, signals an aggressive expansion of the horror‑comedy universe. If the Independence Day slot materialises, the film will ride the patriotic holiday wave. A Christmas launch could tap the lucrative year‑end market.
Fans have already taken to social media, speculating on the visual style of Mahavatar and the possible crossover Easter eggs between the two films. The buzz is palpable, and the industry is watching how Kaushal’s mythic avatar will sit alongside the quirky, supernatural tone that made Stree a cultural touchstone.
With the calendar now set, the next milestone will be the Mahavatar first‑look reveal, expected in early 2027. Until then, the anticipation builds, and the horror‑comedy franchise appears poised for its biggest chapter yet.
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