Exclusive | Abhishek Banerjee talks about the Pataal Lok casting controversy

Abhishek Banerjee has delivered some iconic performances that left the audience stunned. Not only acting, but he is even acing at casting. However, the struggle and the gap between both professions has been a long one of 8 years. In mid-day`s exclusive segment of Bombay Film Story with Mayank Shekhar, Abhishek addressed the Paatal Lok casting controversy and his journey into acting.

On casting artists from different states

On casting artists from different states, Abhishek shared, "We used to do that a lot, even now. Because, but I feel it`s very difficult for you know, if you don`t stay in Bombay, it`s a little difficult to, like, make that career. Woh bahar se hona thoda mushkil hai. You might get your first opportunity, but then you have to, like, be in the city, be in the game. 8 years for me to get my first break, even though I was a casting director, which is a crazy thing, right? I couldn`t even crack some of the important auditions of my time."

When asked about the Pataal Lok casting controversy, Abhishek revealed, "Abhi bhi hota hai. At least the audience, woh apne aap aapas mein debate kar lete hain. Pehle woh toh debate nahi tha. Pehle woh acquisition tha. Now, at least, there is a debate. Which is okay. Not really. I, because I`ve stayed with, see I`ve been on the other side na, so I understand where that comes from."

Abhishek addressed the Pataal Lok casting controversy

He further added, "Success has two meanings. Either lineage or corruption. There`s no hard work attached to success. It`s very difficult for people to accept that. That someone has worked hard. The industry people would know that. They will see the hard work, but the common man, they don`t know yeh. So they`ll always find ki cheat code hai. It`s like, you know, middle-class households, if anybody has money, that`s black money. Right? Like you can`t earn money in a straight line. So that`s how society works. So when they started doing that, I`m like, yeah, I understand. Like, you know, that`s the first thought even I would have had. If I were not in the game, if I didn`t understand how the business is run, if I didn`t understand how directors take calls. If I, you know, because, I mean, nobody is, nobody is such good friends with you to cast you just because of friendship. And screw up their own film because they don`t believe in the talent."

Abhishek went on to share, "And for you to expect a Sudeep Sharma or Avinash Arun or a Prosit Roy to do that, you must be naive to not know the kind of work they come from. You know, what kind of art they have created before. So they were just naive boys who were frustrated with the whole casting system, of them not finding work and, you know, blaming it on somebody ki arre yaar isko easily mil gaya. And that happens even now. Not only with me, but probably with other casting assistants who are getting jobs."