Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who has been earning widespread acclaim for his roles in the recently released films Stree 2 and Vedaa, has finally shared the intriguing backstory of how he landed these two vastly different roles. Both films, which hit theatres on August 15, present Banerjee in uniquely contrasting characters, showcasing his versatile acting prowess.
In an insightful conversation with ANI, Abhishek delved deep into his journey with the Stree franchise, directed by Amar Kaushik. Stree, known for its blend of horror and comedy, has been a hit among audiences, and the franchise’s latest installment has kept this momentum going strong. Banerjee narrated how his association with the Stree series took shape.
“Amar Kaushik ji is one of the most visionary filmmakers of our time. I was always too shy to approach big directors,” Banerjee opened up. “But one day, I mustered the courage to tell him to keep me in mind for a role in his future projects.”
Banerjee’s breakthrough moment with Amar Kaushik came after a gripping performance as a dark villain in a movie directed by Devashish Makhija. “After watching my performance, Amar ji complimented me, saying I reminded him of Amrish Puri ji. That was a huge compliment for me,” he recalled. This compliment seemed to plant the seed for a future collaboration.
When it came time to cast for Stree 2, Amar Kaushik approached Banerjee with the role of Jana. However, Banerjee was initially hesitant due to his preconceived notions of the character.
“He offered me the role of Jana. I refused at first because I’m from Delhi, and I usually look for roles with a bit of attitude, like the one in Vedaa. But Amar ji saw something in me that I hadn’t noticed—a goofiness and sweetness,” Banerjee explained. It took a bit of convincing, but eventually, Banerjee took on the role and added a new layer of charm and humor to the character.
While Stree 2 provided Banerjee an opportunity to exhibit his comedic timing, Vedaa was an entirely different ball game. In Vedaa, a high-octane action film, Banerjee plays a compelling antagonist opposite the action star John Abraham.
. Recounting his journey into Vedaa, Banerjee expressed his long-held desire to work with Nikkhil Advani.
“I wanted to work with Nikkhilji for many years. I had met him at some events as well. When I met him, I told him that I wanted to discuss work and asked him to invite me to his office sometime. He said he would, but he never did,” Banerjee revealed candidly. Persistence paid off when, after another reminder, Advani finally invited him to discuss future projects.
“It was a Sunday, and there was no one in his office. I felt like he was just like me because I can’t sit idle either—I always want to be working. That’s when he told me the story of Vedaa, and I felt like I had to do this film,” he said.
Working alongside John Abraham in Vedaa was no small feat, and Banerjee took it as an enormous responsibility. “Standing alongside a big action star like John Abraham on screen is a huge responsibility. I didn’t want the audience to feel like the villain was weak or disappointing. I saw this as both a great learning opportunity and a big challenge, to convince the audience that I could overpower John’s character, even without building a big physique,” he added.
Vedaa, directed by Nikkhil Advani and written by Aseem Arrora, features John Abraham and Sharvari in lead roles. Produced by Zee Studios, Umesh Kr Bansal, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, and John Abraham, and co-produced by Minnakshi Das, the film promises high voltage action and drama.
Parallelly, Banerjee’s portrayal of Jana in Stree 2 sees him sharing screen space with Rajkummar Rao, Aparshakti Khurrana, Shraddha Kapoor, and Pankaj Tripathi. Stree 2, continuing the success of its predecessors, quickly became the favored choice among moviegoers, overpowering box office competitors like Khel Khel Mein and Vedaa itself.
The trajectory of Abhishek Banerjee’s career, marked by such contrasting roles in Stree 2 and Vedaa, underscores his ability to seamlessly transition between genres and characters, establishing him as one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors.
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