In an industry obsessed with numbers and faces on posters, Rajkummar Rao stands as a rare voice of humility. As Stree 2 went on to become one of the biggest hit of Hindi Cinema last year, during his chat with ETimes , he makes one thing clear — success, he believes, belongs to stories and the collective spirit behind them, not to any single individual.Stree 2 was directed by Amar Kaushik and featured names like Shraddha Kapoor, Aparshakti Khurrana, Abhishek Banerjee, Pankaj Tripathi and guest appearances by Akshay Kumar and Tamannaah Bhatia and it went on to collect almost Rs 600 crore in India.

“Stree became Stree,” he says, a warm smile lingering on his face, “because people loved Stree so much. And I would be a fool to think that Stree worked because of me.”
For an actor who has delivered one memorable performance after another — from Shahid to Newton, Bareilly Ki Barfi to Badhaai Do — Rao’s groundedness is as endearing as his on-screen personas. Even with Stree, a film that became a cultural phenomenon and redefined horror-comedy for mainstream Bollywood, he refuses to take singular credit.
“No,” he shakes his head thoughtfully. “It worked because of the story, because of the love the part one got. Of course, did I contribute as an actor? Yes, I did a lot. As Bikki, yes, I did a lot. But so did Amar, so did Deenu ( Dinesh Vijan) , so did all the departments that were involved in making that film.”
It’s a rare and refreshing admission in an industry where stars often claim ownership over blockbusters, sometimes brushing aside the massive ecosystem of writers, directors, technicians, and marketing teams that shape a film’s destiny. Rajkummar believes in acknowledging every cog in the wheel — from the spot boy on set to the person splicing together the final edit.
“Because we being the faces on the posters, people start saying Stree, this Stree, that Stree,” he reflects. “But yeah, everybody works for the film. It’s a team effort. But that doesn’t mean every film is going to be like that. Because every film is different. Every film has its own destiny.”
It’s perhaps this belief in destiny — a notion both romantic and practical — that keeps Rajkummar unfazed in the face of both triumphs and setbacks. His career has been a masterclass in balance: indie gems alongside commercial hits, intimate dramas alongside masala entertainers.
“As long as my films are making enough money for my producers, you know, to not go in losses, and we keep telling these stories — I’m very happy with that,” he says.
Rajkummar is now gearing for his next big release Bhool Chuk Maaf with Wamiqa Gabbi- the film is slated for release on 9th May.

Kiara Advani made her dazzling debut at the MET Gala 2025, and as expected, she turned heads. But her look didn’t just win praise – it sparked a fun fashion debate online. Netizens were quick to notice that her bold outfit reminded them of another iconic look: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s dramatic appearance at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in 2024.
The similarities were impossible to miss. Both actresses chose black and gold themes, capes that made a statement, and fashion that screamed drama and elegance. Naturally, fans had a lot to say.

See More: Met Gala 2025 LIVE Updates: Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Diljit Dosanjh, Kiara Advani, Indian stars dazzle on the global stage

Kiara’s Look: Drama, glamour and a heartfelt connection

Designed by Gaurav Gupta, Kiara’s gown was anything but ordinary. She wore a black strapless dress with a sculptural golden breastplate that sparkled with crystals and tiny ghungroos. But this wasn’t just about fashion—it carried meaning.
The breastplate was called ‘Mother Heart’ and ‘Baby Heart’ and symbolised the journey of motherhood. Two golden hearts were connected by a delicate chain, representing the umbilical cord. The soft jingle of the ghungroos gave the look a graceful Indian touch. This made Kiara’s MET Gala appearance even more special, as she is currently expecting her first child with actor-husband Sidharth Malhotra.

Flashbacks to Cannes: Aishwarya’s gold goddess look

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is no stranger to making fashion headlines, wore a custom black-and-gold gown back at Cannes in 2024. Designed by Falguni Shane Peacock, her outfit had dramatic puffed sleeves, golden detailing, and a sweeping cape with 3D floral work. It was bold, royal, and had an unmistakable ‘diva’ vibe. Although her look got mixed reactions at the time, with some loving it and others calling it too much, it’s now being appreciated in a new light, thanks to the comparisons with Kiara.
As one fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Happy to see that her this look from Cannes last is getting recreated by Kiara Advani at #MetGala Fashion icon #AishwaryaRaiBachchan 🔥”

Fans play spot the difference: ‘Bas 19/20 ka fark hai’

As soon as Kiara’s look went public, fashion watchers started pointing out the similarities. On Instagram, DietSabya’s post sharing Kiara’s behind-the-scenes clip netizens commented, “Anyone getting flashbacks of Aishwarya’s Falguni and Shane Peacock Cannes”
Another chimed in, “It reminds me Aishwarya’s Cannes look from Cannes 2024” and “Aishwarya wore something similar for cannes???”

Over on Reddit, a user titled their post, “Kiara’s Met look reminds me of Aish’s Cannes look.” They even added that it looked a bit like what Alia Bhatt wore in France, “Also a bit like the silver armor Alia wore on the runway in France.” Another user replied, “Omg yes I knew I had seen her outfit somewhere 😭 Just couldn’t place my finger on it.”
Check out the post here
But not all reactions were positive. Some users criticised Indian designers for playing it safe. “Why Indian designers always play SAFE! None of them have it. Sabyasachi always disappoints on international level.” And one harsh comment summed it up with, “19/20 ka fark. Feeling sad for Kiara.”

Hair, capes, and desi drama: Too many coincidences?

Some fans also pointed out that it wasn’t just the outfits that matched, both actresses had their hair open and flowing with comments like “even the open hair”, adding to the goddess-like effect. The matching black-and-gold palette, use of capes, and dramatic energy led many to say it felt like Kiara was carrying on the ‘desi diva’ legacy on the global stage.
Despite all the chatter, Kiara made the look her own. The emotional layer tied to motherhood, the delicate ghungroos, and her glowing presence made the ensemble stand out. Her expression of Indian artistry at the MET Gala, a space known for wild and experimental fashion, gave her a well-deserved place on the global fashion radar.