Abhishek Banerjee, currently basking in the success of “Stree 2,” is not just known for his acting prowess. With a commendable 15 years of experience as a casting director, Banerjee also co-owns a casting agency named Casting Bay in Mumbai. In a recent interview with NDTV, Banerjee shed light on the stringent measures his company has implemented to ensure a safe working environment for women.
Banerjee firmly stated that his company has set up strict protocols to maintain professionalism and safety within the workplace. One of the cornerstone policies at Casting Bay is the outright ban on conducting meetings outside the office. Banerjee elaborated on this by saying, “The first thing we did was that we decided on a rule that we will not do any meetings or none of our employees are allowed to do any meetings outside our office. Because the problem which was really deep-seated was that there was a lot of coffee shop-meeting culture in Bombay. ‘Let’s meet at this coffee shop, meet at this restaurant’. We wanted to say ‘No, that’s not professional. We are not going to work in a coffee shop. You are not meeting to eat food or have coffee. You are meeting for work. So let’s keep it professional. You come to our office, whoever wants to meet, we will give you time. You come, speak to us, and then you go.’”
The decision to centralize meetings within the office premises is a significant move to ensure transparency and professionalism. By eliminating the practice of hosting work-related meetings in informal settings like coffee shops and restaurants, Banerjee believes it not only maintains the focus on work but also safeguards the environment against potential misconducts.
In a bid to further strengthen the company’s workplace culture, Banerjee introduced another pivotal rule concerning communication outside office hours. He emphasized that employees are not permitted to message female actors or colleagues after a specific time.
. Banerjee explained, “None of our employees are allowed to message female actors after a certain point. If you do that, strict actions will be taken which we have. We have fired employees who have messaged actresses at a certain hour which was probably objectionable. We created a system where women would feel safe.” This rule reinforces the boundary between professional and personal spaces, ensuring that communication remains strictly professional and within appropriate hours.
Banerjee’s commitment to providing a safe and respectful workplace for women also found further action in his company’s handling of violations. He revealed that strict actions have been taken against those who have transgressed these rules, including termination of employment for those found guilty. This zero-tolerance policy underscores Casting Bay’s dedication to maintaining a secure environment for its female employees and collaborators.
The casting director’s stringent measures are likely a response to the broader concerns about workplace harassment in various industries, including film and entertainment. Such initiatives not only contribute to building a safer work environment but also set a precedent for other companies to follow.
In a related note, Banerjee’s colleague, director Amar Kaushik, recently addressed feedback regarding Shraddha Kapoor’s limited screen time in “Stree 2” during an interview with Bollywood Hungama. Responding to the viewer’s comments about Kapoor’s brief appearance, Kaushik defended the creative decision behind it. “Some people even complained that Shraddha Kapoor’s screen time is less. Lekin agar Shraddha zyada dikhti, toh jis tarah ki entry ki usne, uska impact nahin hota (But if Shraddha had been more visible, the kind of entry she made would not have had an impact),” he remarked.
Kaushik also touched upon the screen time of other actors like Aparshakti Khurana, emphasizing that the narrative’s requirements always take precedence over individual screen time. “We write what is required,” he commented, clarifying that the script dictates the duration of each actor’s role and that considerations about an actor feeling slighted are secondary to the needs of the story.
By addressing both his professional and workplace ethics, Abhishek Banerjee exemplifies a modern approach to leadership in the entertainment industry. His efforts to create a safe and professional environment for female colleagues highlight his commitment to change and uphold dignity in the workplace. This move can potentially inspire other industry leaders to adopt similar measures, fostering a more respectful and professional culture in the workplace.
