Shraddha Kapoor has a simple rule for choosing a film: the story has to be good. At the trailer launch of Eetha, she said she does not measure her career by box office milestones. “For me, it matters that it is a good film,” she said. That outlook, she added, is why she sometimes does one film in two years.
Shraddha was not interested in framing films as women-oriented or men-oriented. “Our industry needs good stories and such stories should be made,” she said. Dividing projects by gender, she argued, is a narrow thought, and success is incidental.
The reunion behind Eetha
Eetha brings Shraddha back with producer Dinesh Vijan after the mega success of Stree and Stree 2. That pairing comes with expectations, but the film moves away from horror-comedy and into biographical drama. Directed by Laxman Utekar, it is rooted in Maharashtra’s tamasha and lavani performance traditions.
Who was Vithabai Narayangaonkar?
Eetha tells the story of Vithabai Narayangaonkar, born on July 1, 1935, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. She was introduced to tamasha early and drew audiences from across the state with performances that combined music, dance and storytelling. Her artistry earned her the President’s award in the Tamasha genre. Fans called her “Tamasha Samradini”, and in 2006, the government instituted the annual Vithabai Narayangavkar Lifetime Achievement Award in her memory. She died on January 15, 2002, at the age of 66 in Narayangaon after a paralytic attack.
Shraddha described herself as “proud to be part of Eetha.” The cast also includes Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Siddharth Jadhav, with music by Ajay-Atul.
Shraddha’s statement landed at a time when box office milestones often dominate film marketing. By talking about good films first, she is signalling that Eetha is a story-led project, not a chase for the next record.
What fans should watch for
- Film: Eetha
- Director: Laxman Utekar
- Producers: Dinesh Vijan and Laxman Utekar; presented by Maddock Films and Kathputli Creations
- Music: Ajay-Atul
- Release date: December 4, 2026
For fans, the message is less about records and more about intent. Shraddha is framing Eetha as a film chosen for its story, which keeps the focus on Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s legacy rather than the box office numbers left behind by Stree 2.
Source: Hindustan Times
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