Mumbai: Shraddha Kapoor has revealed that she turned down several film offers, including lucrative projects, after the success of Stree 2, choosing instead to wait for a story that she genuinely connected with. The actress said her decision to remain patient was ultimately rewarded when she found Eetha, her upcoming biographical musical drama directed by Laxman Utekar.
Following the success of Stree 2, Shraddha received several offers. However, she decided not to rush into her next project simply to maintain her presence on the big screen. She wanted a script that matched her expectations and gave her a reason to return to work.
Speaking about her decision, the actress said, “After Stree 2, I was offered a lot of films and money as well, but I had decided that until I get that perfect story, I won’t sign anything. My heart said that I will have to keep that patience, and I did that.”
Shraddha says patience was difficult but rewarding
Shraddha acknowledged that waiting for the right opportunity was not easy, particularly when she was keen to return to films. Turning down projects, including financially attractive offers, meant taking the risk of remaining away from the screen for longer than expected.
However, looking back, she said she felt proud of having trusted her instincts rather than accepting a project merely for the sake of staying active in the industry.
“Of course it’s difficult to wait for something that you really really want. But right what I am feeling is pride. I just feel so proud of the fact that I waited. So, I would say listen to that little voice in your heart. Sometimes, it can be difficult but it is totally worth it,” she said.
Her comments reflect the importance she placed on finding a role that offered her a meaningful creative opportunity. With Eetha, Shraddha is stepping into a subject rooted in Maharashtra’s folk performance traditions, marking a distinct choice for her next major screen appearance.
Eetha tells the story of legendary Lavani performer
Directed by Laxman Utekar and written by Kshitij Patwardhan, Eetha is a biographical musical drama based on the life of Vithabai Narayangaonkar, one of Maharashtra’s most celebrated Tamasha and Lavani performers. Shraddha Kapoor plays the central character.
The film traces Vithabai’s journey from rural folk-theatre stages to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, highlighting her contribution to Maharashtra’s cultural heritage. It also explores the social and personal challenges she faced during her life, including gender discrimination, caste barriers and heartbreak.
Through Vithabai’s story, the film seeks to bring attention to the struggles of women performers and the cultural significance of traditional folk theatre. Her journey from village performances to national recognition forms the central thread of the narrative.
Randeep Hooda and others feature in the cast
Apart from Shraddha, Eetha features Randeep Hooda, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Siddharth Jadhav in key roles. The film is produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner, in association with Laxman Utekar and Karishma Sharma’s Kathputli Creations.
The music for the film has been composed by the acclaimed duo Ajay-Atul, whose work is expected to play an important role in bringing the folk-performance traditions depicted in the story to the screen.
Eetha is scheduled for a theatrical release across India on December 4, 2026. For Shraddha, the film marks the culmination of a deliberate wait after Stree 2. Having passed up several offers in search of a story that connected with her, the actress now believes that trusting her instincts was the right decision.