Dinesh Vijan on why Stree 3 won’t release in 2026: 'We’re very conscious not to repeat ourselves'

Since its inception, Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films has built a strong reputation for delivering quality, crowd-pleasing stories — from Love Aaj Kal (2009) and Cocktail (2012) to Badlapur and Hindi Medium. But it was in 2018, with Stree, that Vijan and director Amar Kaushik opened a new chapter in Hindi cinema — creating the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, now home to titles like Bhediya (2022), Munjya (2024), Stree 2 (2024) and the recently released Thamma.

In a recent interview on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, Vijan revealed why the team isn’t rushing to bring Stree 3 to screens in 2026 — a move that might surprise fans of the franchise.

“We’re taking our time because we don’t want to repeat ourselves”

Talking about how he approaches each film in the universe, Dinesh said, “Munjya and Stree are completely different worlds. The family conflict, the emotional beats — they’re not the same. That’s why we’re not bringing Stree 3 next year, which most people would want to do. Even for us, it would make sense commercially. But there’s a journey to it.”

He added, “We are very conscious not to repeat. The universe is like a big family with many members — everyone has their own personality and conflicts. As long as we keep that individuality alive, the audience will stay invested. When you see Thamma, you’ll realise it’s nothing like Munjya or Stree.”

“A universe should evolve, not rush”

Vijan shared that he treats the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe as an interconnected family of stories — each allowed to grow at its own pace. “I’m from a joint family. We love a big family atmosphere — and yes, family politics too,” he laughed. “The universe is like that. It’s fun when people have their own theories about how Stree connects with Munjya. We have a team developing these stories carefully. Every film should feel special — not like it’s made just because the previous one worked.”

What’s next in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe?

While Stree 3 takes its time to brew, the slate ahead remains packed. The upcoming lineup includes Shakti Shalini starring Aneet Padda, Bhediya 2 with Varun Dhawan, Chamunda reportedly featuring Alia Bhatt, and the intriguingly titled Maha Munjya, Pehla Mahayudh, and Doosara Mahayudh.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”