Renowned actor Abhishek Banerjee is basking in critical acclaim for his stellar performances in the recently released films ‘Stree 2’ and ‘Vedaa’. Both films, which hit theaters on the auspicious day of August 15, present Banerjee in radically different avatars, showcasing his versatility as an actor. In an insightful conversation with ANI, Banerjee delved into the behind-the-scenes stories of how he landed these distinct roles and the personal journey that led him to this milestone in his career.
Directed by Amar Kaushik, ‘Stree’ has become a successful franchise that blends horror and comedy, a rarity in Indian cinema. Reflecting on his initiation into this franchise, Banerjee revealed a story marked by serendipity and professional persistence.
“Amar Kaushik ji is one of the most visionary filmmakers of our time,” Banerjee began. “Back then, I was always too shy to approach big directors, but my hunger for diverse roles was growing. One day, I mustered the courage to ask Amar ji to keep me in mind for future projects. An initial breakthrough came when he saw my performance as a dark villain in a film directed by Devashish Makhija. Amar ji actually complimented me by saying I reminded him of the legendary Amrish Puri ji, which was a massive compliment and confidence boost for me.”
When casting for ‘Stree 2’ commenced, Kaushik saw something unique in Banerjee. However, even though the director offered him the role of Jana, Banerjee was initially hesitant.
“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. He insisted I play Jana, and that’s how I got the opportunity to portray such a wonderful character,” Banerjee remarked, calling it a learning curve that expanded his acting range.
On the other hand, the narrative of how Banerjee bagged a role in ‘Vedaa’ is one of unyielding determination and patience. ‘Vedaa,’ directed by Nikkhil Advani, features Banerjee alongside action superstar John Abraham. The contrast in Banerjee’s characters between ‘Stree 2’ and ‘Vedaa’ is stark, highlighting his extraordinary adaptability.
“I had wanted to work with Nikkhilji for many years,” Banerjee recounted. “I had met him at various industry events, and each time I implored him to consider me for his projects. Despite my efforts, an invitation to his office never came.
. Finally, our paths crossed again, and this time I was more insistent. I guess my persistence paid off, because one Sunday, he called me to his office. To my surprise, it was completely empty except for the two of us, a scenario I found relatable given my own ethos of continuous work.”
That meeting turned out to be monumental. “Nikkhil ji narrated the story of ‘Vedaa’ to me, and something clicked inside me. I felt compelled to be a part of this project,” Banerjee explained. The actor then elaborated on the challenges and responsibilities of sharing screen space with John Abraham.
“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 noted.
‘Vedaa’ features John Abraham and Sharvari as the lead characters. Directed by Nikkhil Advani and written by Aseem Arrora, ‘Vedaa’ is a significant production involving heavyweights like Zee Studios, Umesh Kr Bansal, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, and John Abraham. The project is co-produced by Minnakshi Das, marking another feather in the cap for Banerjee’s extensive resume.
Returning to ‘Stree 2’, Banerjee reminisced about the ensemble cast and the vibrant dynamic on set. He is joined by Rajkummar Rao, Aparshakti Khurrana, Shraddha Kapoor, and Pankaj Tripathi in the sequel. “The camaraderie and energy on set were unbelievable, and I think it shows on screen,” he said.
Interestingly, ‘Stree 2’ faced stiff competition at the Box Office, releasing concurrently with ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Vedaa’. Nonetheless, the Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao-led film emerged as the top choice for moviegoers, surpassing its competitors by a considerable margin.
This compelling journey of Abhishek Banerjee from initially hesitating to take on the role of Jana in ‘Stree 2’ to embracing the challenge of standing tall opposite John Abraham in ‘Vedaa’ proves to be an inspiring tale of artistic evolution and relentless determination.
This report is brought to you by a third-party syndicated feed. Mid-day assumes no responsibility for the dependability, trustworthiness, or reliability of the text. Mid-day management reserves the right to make editorial changes as necessary.
