Shraddha Kapoor has reportedly stepped away from Ekta Kapoor's upcoming film, directed by Rahi Anil Barve, due to a disagreement over payment. The film, a high-concept thriller, was set to star Shraddha in a leading role, marking her first major project after the success of "Stree 2."

According to reports, the disagreement arose when Shraddha quoted a fee of ₹17 crore along with a share in the film's profits. The producers at Balaji Motion Pictures, led by Ekta Kapoor, allegedly found this figure too high, deeming it unsustainable for a women-led film of this scale. The concern was that such a fee would inflate the overall budget, making the project economically unviable in today's volatile theatrical market.

With negotiations at an impasse, Shraddha reportedly decided to withdraw from the project. The production team is now actively seeking another prominent actress to take on the lead role. Talks are said to be underway with other actresses to keep the project on track.

This development follows the tremendous success of "Stree 2," in which Shraddha reprised her role alongside Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, and Abhishek Banerjee. The horror-comedy sequel proved to be a box office hit, further solidifying Shraddha's position in the industry and raising anticipation for her upcoming projects. Currently, Shraddha has "Stree 3" officially lined up, scheduled for release on August 13, 2027. The film will be the third installment in the successful franchise produced by Maddock Films.

Aside from "Stree 3," Shraddha is reportedly in early discussions with several prominent producers, including Dinesh Vijan, Bhushan Kumar, and Boney Kapoor, for future collaborations. She is expected to finalize her next film in the coming months.

Throughout her career, Shraddha Kapoor has appeared in a mix of commercially successful and content-driven films, including "Chhichhore," "Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar," "Saaho," "Ek Villain" and "Half Girlfriend". Her reported exit from Ekta Kapoor's film adds another layer to the ongoing conversation surrounding remuneration and budget constraints in women-led films in the Hindi film industry.

The financial viability of female-centric films has been a recurring topic of discussion in Bollywood. While some actresses have successfully commanded high fees, producers often hesitate to allocate large budgets to such projects, leading to disagreements and casting changes. Shraddha's demand for ₹17 crore, plus a share in profits, reflects her rising star power and box office appeal, particularly after "Stree 2." However, Ekta Kapoor's reservations highlight the existing challenges in balancing talent compensation with budgetary limitations. This situation underscores the delicate balance between recognizing an actress's market value and managing the overall financial health of a film production.