Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who has been garnering much acclaim for his performances in both “Stree 2” and “Vedaa,” recently shared insights into how he landed these two very different roles. Both films, which hit theaters on August 15, showcase Banerjee in starkly contrasting characters, demonstrating his versatility as an actor.
During an interview with ANI, Banerjee delved into his journey with “Stree 2,” a franchise directed by Amar Kaushik that has enjoyed significant success.
“Amar Kaushik ji is one of the most visionary filmmakers of our time,” Banerjee began, expressing his admiration for the director. “I was always too shy to approach big directors, but one day, I told him to keep me in mind for a role in his future projects. After watching my performance as a dark villain in a film directed by Devashish Makhija, Amar ji complimented me, saying I reminded him of Amrish Puri ji. That was a huge compliment for me. Later, when ‘Stree’ was being made, I reminded him about giving me a role.”
Banerjee went on to share that, despite his eagerness to work with Kaushik, he initially turned down the role of Jana in “Stree 2.”
“He offered me the role of Jana,” Banerjee recalled. “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.”
In contrast, Banerjee’s journey to landing a role in “Vedaa,” where he stars alongside John Abraham, was marked by perseverance and a bit of serendipity.
“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. Then I met him somewhere else and reminded him again.
. I guess I left an impression, and he eventually called me. 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,” Banerjee shared.
Discussing the challenges that came with his role in “Vedaa,” Banerjee emphasized the importance of making a strong impact opposite a star like 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 added.
“Vedaa,” directed by Nikkhil Advani and written by Aseem Arrora, features John Abraham and Sharvari in lead roles. The film is produced by Zee Studios, Umesh Kr Bansal, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, John Abraham, and co-produced by Minnakshi Das. Banerjee’s portrayal aims to break the traditional image of a villain, focusing on his character’s mind over muscle.
Meanwhile, in “Stree 2,” Banerjee’s character, Jana, brings a different flavor to his filmography. He shares the screen with prominent actors like Rajkummar Rao, Aparshakti Khurrana, Shraddha Kapoor, and Pankaj Tripathi.
The Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao-starrer faced a box office clash with “Khel Khel Mein” and “Vedaa” on August 15. Nevertheless, “Stree 2” quickly became the top choice for moviegoers, surpassing the other two films by a considerable margin.
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