Abhishek Banerjee Says Becoming A Casting Director Was Just A Medium Of Getting Closer To Acting
Abhishek Banerjee has been in Bollywood for a long long time but it has only been now that the audience is realising his potential as an actor. The actor who has featured in Rang De Basanti too has made a mark with characters like Hathoda Tyagi and Janna.
If you're wondering how these roles are special, then you must know that both were not the lead roles yet left a lasting impression. We spoke to Abhishek Banerjee and he reveals why it took him so long to make a cut and how his ultimate goal was to become an actor.
From a comical role in Stree to a psycho in Pataal Lok, Abhishek has featured in extreme roles?
?Not many know that Abhishek was not inclined towards playing any of these roles that made him hugely popular. "In Stree, the director liked me for Janna. I thought I was perfect for Bittu's role which was Aparshakti but then the makers saw Janna in me. I never thought I have anything relatable with Janna so I had to really recall my childhood to get fun ideas to be like him. And in Paatal Lok, atleast looking at the script, I wanted to do Ansari's character but the director had seen Stree and said why don't you audition for Hathoda Tyagi."?
Abhishek was apprehensive on taking up Hathoda Tyagi's role because he has no dialogues?
?Abhishek says actors prefer solid characters with lines and in Paatal Lok, he was given a role with no dialogue. "I was shocked because I am not saying anything in that role. I was confused even after clearing the audition if I should go ahead or not. "Only after we performed and I saw the way it was being made, I realised it could be big. I, infact convinced my friends to write decent reviews about my movie or show, because I thought I was bad. Every character I have slipped in, I am not sure of it but the director is . And of course, spending time with the character, it's easy for me or the director to extract something out of from me because its like an that unknown territory."? ?
Abhishek Banerjee always wanted to become an actor and casting was just a medium of getting closer to his goal?
Way before Stree, Abhishek Banerjee had auditioned for plenty of roles but nothing fell through. "When I came to Mumbai, I auditioned for Udaan and I couldn't even meet the AD or director because there was a certain process and I didn't know anyone. I wanted to play the role of Rajat Barmecha in Udaan but I also realised that I have crossed that age to play young."??
Unlearning a few things from theatre was important to act in front of the camera?
Ever since, Abhishek took theatre classes in DU, he was clear he wanted to be an actor. He started his journey as a theatre artist but he also realised that silver screen is different from stage acting. "I knew I had to polish my craft and unlearn a lot of things from the medium of theatre acting so that I could match the performances to the camera, so that took a lot of time."?
?Stree was the film when I told myself that you can't fool around now and now enjoy acting and say no to it?
Stree was not the first film that came to Abhishek Banerjee. Being a casting director, Abhishek has been offered smaller roles in the past as well. "Honestly, I have said no to a lot of roles. I have been casting for a long time so in this line, there are people who are wanting to offer small parts, I would say no because the ones I wanted to do, I never got those parts. However,??Stree was the turning point.
Ahishek also realised that small or big screen time should not be a focus?
During his casting days, he realised there are many other out there you are better than him. "Sometimes you see an under-performer and feel you are better and sometime you see amazing performance and you feel like unlearning. I realised i am not better than many. My own boss, he is a very strict casting director and he kept telling me why my auditions are not good and where I am lacking and how I needed more training and understanding. He pointed out actors like Nawaz bhai and Deepak Dobriyal on how they started with small roles and one scenes.?
He also admits that screen or lines don't really matter. "If you are good, you will find a way. If you are good, you don't need a line. I come from DU and I was one of the few actors who was known in DUAll those great performances over the years and screen tests have made me a better actor, I have seen some screen test from Black Friday where I would feel they are killing it."
In the insider VS outsider debate, I happily call myself an insider and have no qualms?
He has been in the industry for more than a decade. Abhishek Banerjee calls himself an insider and not because he knows anyone big in Bollywood but because he loves the industry and the art too much, "I was always an insider ever since I thought of coming into Bollywood. The day I thought of becoming an actor, I was professionally acting on stage, so since that day I have been an insider. It's not only about this industry, it is about being the artist community from the world.I would want to explore foreign films or regional cinema.
New actors are thinking I am taking away their roles only because Hathoda Tyagi has become a hit?
From casting director to acting, Abhishek Banerjee was once behind the camera, rehearsing lines with upcoming stars. Newbies feel all roles are being taken on by the ones who cast. Whether it's Bhumi Pednekar, Parineeti Chopra, Mukesh Chabbra, who became a director and now Abhishek Banerjee. Speaking about his journey, Abhishek says, "My journey can consist of many things but my goal was always acting. I was creating an opportunity of my own employment and at the same time pursuing my dreams. There is only hard work and dedication."??
Hathoda Tyagi became successful, hence people are thinking i am taking the best role but what if Paatal Lok bombed then no one would have spoken about me taking away their roles. I had no clue Stree would end up making Rs 150 crore or the web show will be a viral content. "
Abhishek Banerjee says he formed his own casting company in 2015 because he accepted that he won't become an actor
Calling casting a mere job to sustain his life in Mumbai, Abhishek recalls, "When I started as an casting assistant, it was only a medium to get into acting, so for me it was just a job, It was for salary, to pay my rent. And in this way, you are close to acting and actors. Like singers have their riyaaz, for me casting assistant became that job, it became gave me a lot of riyaaz. I used to give cues to the new actors and play along with them. so imagine the amount of roles I have played."
"This was a training ground for me. It changed the way I looked at acting. Maybe now I know how to regulate my energy. And when as an assistant, I kept getting rejected, that's when I thought me being a casting director, if I am not able to crack the audition, the problem has to be me. Jaise actors mujhe bolte hai, main tab bolte tha to other casting directors. but now looking back, maybe that wasn't for me."
He further said, "So I became a casting director cos I realised I am good at this so I should do the best here. But in my head, it was always a part time job.My casting company was formed and then I started thinking on those lines and I gave up acting. I am 40 and I will make a debut as an actor. but it wasn't my time. So the formation of the company was because I accepted my fate that I won't become an actor. "
Cinema hall culture will come back?
Abhishek Banerjee feels silver screen is irreplaceable. "We may enjoy the OTT, or Netfix but we as humans enjoy community watching. We like the experience of crying, singing, getting scared together. Cinema lovers will need to be safe and take precautions but I don't think as a medium, large screen is replaceable by TV or mobile phones. Stree, I enjoyed much more, watching with the audience than watching alone. So, I am a believer of community viewing."
Everyone is giving an opinion on Rhea and Sushant and that's the problem?
Not shying away from the ongoing uproar on Sushant and Rhea, Ahishek said he belongs to a family of laywers who believe this culd be invasion of privacy. "Those who need to talk, should talk, those who can contribute for things to ease out , they should be the ones giving out opinion and statement. Just because of a celebrity tag, people are commenting, it's not the right way. I come from a law family with core films and I realise this is not the need, I just know most people should not be talking."? ? ? ? ?
Abhishek Banerjee will next be seen in Helmet and Aankh Micholi.
