Shraddha Kapoor: From a Quiet 2010 Debut to Stree and Beyond

Photo: PR WIRE Silverscreen Media Inc., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shraddha Kapoor was born in Mumbai on March 3, 1987, into a film family. Her father is Shakti Kapoor, the actor known for his villain and comedy roles. She made her screen debut in the thriller Teen Patti in 2010, a film that did not do much at the box office, and that is a good reminder that a quiet start does not decide a career.

Photo: Ayurvedagram The Heart of Healing, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Her breakthrough came with Aashiqui 2 in 2013, a romantic musical in which she played a young singer opposite Aditya Roy Kapur. The songs were a big part of its success, and the film gave her the audience that she has kept since. She followed it with Ek Villain, Haider and ABCD 2, showing that she could move between romance, drama and dance.

Photo: Nicholas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The film I connect most with her now is Stree, released in 2018. It is a horror comedy set in a small town, with a ghost who steals men, and it was one of the surprise hits of that year. A sequel, Stree 2, followed in 2024 and was a very large success. It turned a mid-sized idea into a franchise.

Photo: The Agashe Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

She is also known for her fitness and her public image, and for being one of the most followed actresses on social media. But the work is what I would point people to. She is at her best when the part allows her a bit of humour.

Photo: Rakesh, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which of her films do you think is the best? Tell me if you agree that Stree is her most distinctive role.