Aditya Sarpotdar Unveils Stree’s Original Lead: Shraddha Kapoor over Abhay Verma
After Stree, Shraddha Kapoor was initially set to star in Munjya’s role. Here’s how Abhay Verma landed the part instead.
Recently, filmmakers Abhay Verma and Sharvari made headlines with their roles in Munjya, appearing as Bittu and Bela. Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, this film is part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, following hits like Stree (2018) and Bhediya (2022). Many fans may not realize that Shraddha was the first choice for the role of Bittu before Abhay stepped in.
In an a recent interview with Moviefied, Aditya Sarpotdar shared that both Shraddha Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were considered for Munjya, as the story was initially written from a female perspective. The character of Bittu was originally meant to be a lesbian, and Shraddha was very close to securing the role. Aditya remarked that they conducted a look test for her, indicating that everything seemed to be progressing well in her favor.
Aditya elaborated on the original script: “Yogesh Chandekar, the writer, had crafted this film focusing on a female protagonist who was in love with her best friend. Nobody really understood her situation, except for Ajii.” Aditya noted that Shraddha was nearly set for the role, but once he joined, the story had to be revised.
He further explained the change in direction. “When I came aboard, I believed the core narrative should remain clear. Audiences prefer to follow a singular focus. I felt the narrative wasn’t working for this film.” He proposed a new storyline where Munjya is a more naïve male character, contrasting sharply with Bittu’s passionate love for someone older.
Overall, the transformation meant the original perspective shifted dramatically. Can you imagine how different Munjya would have been with Shraddha Kapoor’s take on the character?
What do you think about this casting decision? Do you think Shraddha would have brought something unique to the role of Bittu?
