EXCLUSIVE: Raaj Shaandilyaa BREAKS SILENCE on apologising publicly to Stree makers for reference in Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video; says, “You can call a woman Stree; it is not a matter of copyright” : Bollywood News

Director Raaj Shaandilyaa recently opened up about the controversy surrounding his film Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, which features references to the hit film Stree. Just days after the film's release, Shaandilyaa issued an apology to the makers of the Stree Universe for including these references without prior approval.

EXCLUSIVE: Raaj Shaandilyaa BREAKS SILENCE on apologising publicly to Stree makers for reference in Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video; says, “You can call a woman Stree; it is not a matter of copyright”

Raaj Shaandilyaa Speaks About Intent Behind Stree Reference

In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Shaandilyaa clarified his intentions regarding the character that drew comparisons to Stree. “I just knew that Rajkummar Rao is doing Stree,” he said. When asked if the inclusion was meant as a tribute, he replied, “Not tribute. Our film has a horror sequence, so we decided to have a character, which is somewhere like Stree, but not Stree. We never called the character Stree.”

The director stated that while the character bears similarities, it is distinctly different from Stree. “If you make a female ghost or a witch, it doesn’t mean it’s Stree,” he explained. He also mentioned that the character is referred to as “Manju Madness” in the film. “You can call a woman Stree; it is not a matter of copyright,” he noted, acknowledging his relationship with Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik. “That is why we didn’t mind chopping off that part,” he added.

Rajkummar Rao’s Reaction To Stree Reference in VVKWWV

Discussing Rajkummar Rao’s response before the shoot, Shaandilyaa revealed, “He was happy. Sometimes thoughts are similar, but we never had the intention of cashing in on Stree. I have done a lot of shows, and a lot of scripts. Some people have taken my original work and copied it, but I never felt bad about it.” He concluded, “We have just cut the image; the humor is still intact.”

For the unversed, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video was released on October 11, and after Maddock Films’ objection over the Stree reference in VVKWWV, the makers chopped off the part.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Raaj Shaandilyaa reveals he narrated idea of Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, but felt Rajkummar Rao was “perfect fit”; says, “He was busy with something and we wanted to start this on right time”