Why Abhishek Banerjee was 'depressed' despite 'Stree' success
Abhishek Banerjee, known for his role as Jana in the hit film Stree, has opened up about his struggle with depression and typecasting following the movie's success. In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Banerjee revealed that despite Stree providing him a significant career boost, it also led to him being pigeonholed as a comedic actor. This stereotyping triggered a depressive episode for him.
'Everybody wanted me to wear some rangeela kapda...'
Banerjee expressed his frustration at being offered similar comedic roles after Stree. "After Jana, I was getting all these goofy characters. Everybody wanted me to wear some rangeela, chamkeela kapda and speak in a certain way," he said. The actor emphasized that while he cherished his character Jana, it does not define his real-life persona or acting range.
'Paatal Lok' role helped Banerjee break out of comedic stereotype
Banerjee's career took a turn when he was cast as Hathoda Tyagi in Paatal Lok. "I was depressed during COVID-19. I thought, 'Shit, nobody is going to imagine anything more for me.' Thankfully Sudeep Sharma imagined me as Hathoda Tyagi in Paatal Lok," he said. This role not only helped him break out of the comedic stereotype but also solidified his position in the industry.
Banerjee now aims to showcase his versatility as an actor
Despite the acclaim for his Paatal Lok performance, Banerjee found himself typecast again, this time as a psycho character. "Now the fight is to prove that I can play normal characters. I can do drama, romance, anything. I am very stubborn," he stated. The actor also shared his struggle in convincing filmmakers of his ability to portray diverse roles beyond comedic or psychotic characters.
Banerjee's self-love fuels his passion for acting
Banerjee also spoke about his love for himself on screen, drawing a parallel with Kareena Kapoor Khan's famous dialogue from Jab We Met, "Main apni favorite hoon." He said, "I love myself on screen. Mujhe main bohot pasand hoon." This self-appreciation has been a driving force in his acting career since his college theater days and continues to fuel his passion for diverse roles.
