Acclaimed actor Abhishek Banerjee, widely appreciated for his versatile performances, has recently shared insights into landing the diverse roles he portrays in the new releases ‘Stree 2’ and ‘Vedaa’. Both films, which hit theaters on August 15, present Banerjee in starkly different characters, showcasing his impressive range as an actor.
In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Abhishek delved into how he initially got involved in the film ‘Stree 2’, directed by Amar Kaushik. The film series ‘Stree’ has already marked its success in the Indian film industry, carving a niche as a franchise. Abhishek recounted his initial approach to one of the most visionary filmmakers of contemporary times.
“Amar Kaushik ji is one of the most visionary filmmakers of our time. I was always too shy to approach big directors but one day, I decided to tell him to keep me in mind for any of his future projects. After watching my performance where I played a dark villain in a film directed by Devashish Makhija, Amar ji complimented me, saying that my performance reminded him of Amrish Puri ji. It was a massive compliment for me because Amrish Puri is a legendary figure. Later, when ‘Stree’ was being made, I reminded him about giving me a role,” Banerjee shared.
When it came to casting for ‘Stree 2’, Kaushik offered Abhishek the role of Jana. Despite his eagerness to work under Kaushik’s direction, Banerjee initially hesitated.
“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 noticed a goofiness and sweetness in me that I hadn’t noticed in myself. He insisted I play Jana, and that’s how I got the opportunity to portray such a wonderful character,” explained Banerjee.
Banerjee also opened up about his experience of securing a pivotal role in ‘Vedaa’, where he stars alongside the Bollywood action star John Abraham. His journey to ‘Vedaa’ began a few years ago with director Nikkhil Advani.
“I wanted to work with Nikkhilji for many years. I had met him at some events over time. When we crossed paths, I expressed my desire to discuss potential projects and asked him to invite me to his office sometime.
. He agreed but it didn’t materialize immediately. Eventually, I encountered him again and reminded him about our previous conversation. I guess I left a lasting impression because he finally called me. It was a Sunday, and there was no one in his office. I instantly connected with him because I’m also the kind who prefers to keep working rather than sitting idle. He narrated the story of ‘Vedaa’, and I realized I had to be a part of this film,” Banerjee narrated.
Starring alongside a well-recognized action figure like John Abraham in ‘Vedaa’ brought its own set of challenges. Banerjee emphasized the importance of living up to audience expectations while showcasing a convincing character.
“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 uninspiring. I saw this as both a great learning opportunity and a significant challenge—to convincingly portray a character strong enough to overpower John’s role, even without crafting a physically imposing physique,” he added.
‘Vedaa’ features John Abraham as the lead, with Sharvari playing another significant role. Directed by Nikkhil Advani and written by Aseem Arrora, ‘Vedaa’ is produced by Zee Studios, Umesh Kr Bansal, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, John Abraham himself, and co-produced by Minnakshi Das.
On the flip side, ‘Stree 2’ retains a stellar cast including Abhishek Banerjee as Jana alongside Rajkummar Rao, Aparshakti Khurrana, Shraddha Kapoor, and Pankaj Tripathi. Directed by Amar Kaushik, it continues the intriguing narrative of its predecessor.
The Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao-starrer, despite a challenging box office clash with ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Vedaa’ on August 15, swiftly emerged as the top choice for moviegoers, surpassing the other two by a significant margin.
This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed and agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its reliability, trustworthiness, or accuracy. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
