Abhishek Banerjee details on financial struggles of newcomers in the Industry

Abhishek Banerjee has proved his mettle in both casting and acting. Be it Janna from Stree, Hathoda Tyagi from Pataal Lok or any of his hit characters, fans have only showered love on the actor. In an exclusive segment of Bombay Film Story with Mayank Shekhar, the actor opened up about his journey into showbiz, how surviving in Mumbai is one of the most difficult aspects of one`s acting dream and more.

Abhishek talks about his character Janna in Stree

Abhishek revealed that he was skeptical about playing Janna, "Janna was quite a, like I was very worried when I did Stree because I didn`t understand whether the pitch of my performance was right or not. Because Ajji was a very different film. And I was coming from that kind of situation to a commercial film like Stree. And the way it was received, I was very like, this also can be done because it`s a very different process, I feel. Commercial acting is different. But you know, like you see shades of your role in Humorously Yours in Janna as well. I`m a time-pass kind of guy. I`m not very ambitious. But more goofy, not taking yourself seriously. I didn`t know that I had a smile, which is probably funny, or something like that. There are so many things you start discovering about yourself. When you see yourself in the camera."

The actor went on to share how Stree was a risk that turned in his favour, "Yes, and also when people discuss it. When they talk about it, I`m like this is working. Oh my eyes look evil to someone. They appear cold to one person, yet very bright to others. So it`s a very different thing. Like, you start learning about yourself through your performances. That started happening. You know, after Stree, after Patal Lok and all the people I was vouching for. Because Stree really put me in a spot where everybody was trying to offer me these goofy characters."

Abhishek details the financial struggles a newcomer faces in the Industry

When asked about how difficult it is for the new ones to really get work in Mumbai, "The new ones are struggling to make a mark. I always say that we have to fight against the whole situation where this can`t become just like a rich man`s medium. It`s at that risk. Where it is going to be very difficult for people from, underprivileged classes or like middle class to come and, you know, shine through because what happens is that it`s not only about your performances and stuff. It`s also about your PR game."

Abhishek detailed how finances play a major role, "It`s also about your brand appearances. It`s also about the kind of clothes you`re wearing and events and stuff like that. And it`s not very, it`s not easy to afford all of that. So what does one do because it`s like you have to keep that balance of show business and plus the rent to pay, and all of that. So it is kind of tricky, and that`s what I think the main fight is."

He further added, "I see so many of the talented ones leaving the city because they can`t afford the city. And yeah, and now I think what`s happened also is that in 2018, these are all my own. It`s for me, it`s like 2018 was the beginning of a new era. Not only because my films were released that year. Also, because films like Andhadhun, Badhai Ho, and Mirzapur came out, Stree came. So if you see the kind of web or theatre mein jo chal raha tha, it was a new wave. Inside Edge ussi saal ke beginning mein aaya tha or something like that. So 2018 was a sacred game. So it was like that new wave of entertainment, Indian entertainment for the audiences. 2020 tak seal ho gaya deal. You know, jin actors ko aana tha, they came. Many of the directors came in. And the new industry started. Now it`s become very difficult for the fresh ones to shine."

Abhishek went on to conclude, "That is what the situation is because the COVID period actually made many, elevated a lot of careers. And now it`s like the elevated ones are, of course, doing their part. Now they have a career ahead of them. There`s no space for the new ones to come. So many times when they say, I`ve done a show, it`s a lead, this that, but I`m still not getting that push. I`m like, yeah, it is a situation where it`s very difficult because the ones who have started, you know, shining in the last four or five years, probably they are getting their due now. So, the new ones are finding it difficult."