'Hathoda Tyagi' from 'Patal Lok', 'Jana' from 'Stree': Enigmatic Life: Showed fake degree at home, got beaten up, then gave 5 100 crore films in Bollywood

Actor Abhishek Banerjee said this during a conversation with Frontpage Insights. Abhishek has carved a unique niche for himself in Bollywood by traversing the theater lanes of Delhi. Has proven himself in every kind of challenging character. The year 2024 has been great for him. 'Stree 2' has broken the records of many films in terms of earnings. Along with this, Abhishek has acted in 5 films which have entered the 100 crore club in Bollywood. Apart from 'Stree 2' there are movies like 'Stree', 'Dream Girl', 'Bala' and 'Dream Girl 2'. Today, Abhishek is at the stage in Bollywood, where he is inspiring the people of the world to come to this glamorous world through his work.

Let's know the success story of Abhishek Banerjee, in his own words

The first play was based on Robin Hood.

'I was born in Khadakpur, West Bengal. My father was in CRPF. They were changing everywhere. I stayed with them everywhere. I lived in Kolkata, Delhi and Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. This allowed me to learn the language and culture of each place. My first play was on Robin Hood when I was in sixth standard in Kalpakkam. When I received a compliment, I thought it was a great thing. However, he was also very involved in sports. I used to play cricket and hockey, but gradually I started enjoying acting. I began to feel that this was a very interesting thing that I had to do forever.'

Abhishek Banerjee was born on May 5, 1985 in Khadakpur, West Bengal.

The teacher's taunt sounded like a gurumantra 'After coming to Delhi from Kalpakkam, performed a play on the annual day of 11th standard. I was a science student, but my interest was in arts. I did not understand science. I focused less on studies and more on extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, when I got a chance to anchor, the maths teacher taunted me from behind saying Abhishek now you do this. His words sounded like a gurumantra to me. I thought he spoke very truthfully.

Bachchan sahib took admission in the college where he was studying 'After this I started taking acting seriously. My dream was to study in Kirodi Mal College, because Amitabh Bachchan Sahib studied in that college. I was a big fan of his. Zeeshan Ayub also studied in that college, he told me about the drama institute of Kirodi Mal College. It was very difficult to get in there. After clearing three rounds of auditions, I got admission in a college drama institute. People used to tease me by calling me Amitabh of 'Deewar' after seeing my body language in college.

'I boycott the exam' written on paper Marks were good in first and second year. In the third year I was bored. At the same time, auditions for 'Chak De India' were going on in Delhi. After going there I realized that there is an entrance exam for every field. Similarly, for the film industry, an entrance exam means an audition.

No one asks about degree and studies at audition. They only see if the acting is good or not. I thought this was the entrance exam for the field I wanted to go into. At the same time I wrote 'I Boycott Exam' on the paper.

'Father slapped me after seeing degree' 'I didn't say anything to my parents. When it was time for the result, I showed the fake degree to my father. He slapped after 10 seconds. I was wondering how they knew? Actually, I entered my name in a friend's final year degree with the help of computer, but forgot to change the date. I was badly beaten that day.'

Couldn't do the girl molestation scene During his college days in Delhi, Rakesh acted in Om Prakash Mehra's film 'Rang De Basanti'. Tusshar Pandey's elder brother Sunil Pandey said that Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra is coming. I had to say a few lines as I went in front of him, but I fumbled a little. They wanted to cast me as a girl molester in the film. When I couldn't deliver the dialogue to tease the girl, I was given a role in a documentary.'

I got 1500 rupees for working in the first film Worked for a day in 'Rang De Basanti'. From that I got 1500 rupees. Out of that, I offered 500 rupees to God, 500 rupees to my mother and spent the remaining 500 rupees on a party. After this film I became a celebrity in Delhi.'

He came to Mumbai after collecting one and a half lakh rupees 'I used to teach theater at Gargi College. There salary was enough to cover expenses easily. I did the voice over. In it, money was paid on a per minute basis. During this, he worked in Doordarshan's show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'. I collected one and a half lakh rupees and came to Mumbai. When I came to Mumbai, all the money was spent on room deposit and brokerage. Gautam Kishanchandani auditioned for the film 'Dev D' in Delhi. He also played a small role in this film. That's where I got the casting offer. Gautam sir said that whenever you come to Mumbai tell me I will keep a job for you.

Fired as Assistant Casting Director 'When the money is gone, thought how to earn now? Got a call from Delhi for a Doordarshan serial. I was told that I have to come by train. I became an artist from Mumbai. I said I will come by flight. The train ticket was sent, so I did not catch the train. Within six months of coming to Mumbai, I got a job as an assistant casting director at Cinevista, but I was fired due to my negligence towards work.'

I got my first job with a monthly salary of Rs 20,000 At the same time Gautam was casting in Kishanchanda's film 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai'. He hired me as his assistant. I used to read the lines of Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi and other actors and girls. I was having so much fun. A monthly salary of 20 thousand rupees was also received. The director of the film, Milan Luthria, also offered me a role in 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai', but I don't know what happened after that. The role again went to Anjum Sharma who played the role of Sharad in 'Mirzapur'. I have done the casting of 'Mirzapur'.

I felt like I couldn't act, I went into depression 'Worked with casting director Gautam Kishanchanda for four years. During this time I realized that I will get the role easily. I was very keen to act in 'Ghanchakkar', but Namit Das was selected instead of me. When I was not selected, I realized that something had gone wrong somewhere. Maybe I didn't understand the camera angle. I began to feel that I would not be able to act. At that time I went into depression. I started thinking that I should do something in directing and writing.'

Didn't want to play the role of a friend in films'Before Rajkumar Gupta's film 'Ghanchakkar', he played the role of a pickpocket in his film 'No One Killed Jessica'. That scene was directed by Amar Kaushik, who was the film's assistant director. Although I was offered the role of a friend in that film, I did not want to play the role of a friend. In our film industry, the role of a friend is called a shadow role. It has no identity of its own. Instead of playing the big role of a friend, I chose to play the small role of a pick pocket.'

I was scared when I got a big role in 'Ajji'. 'I have never compromised with work. I had my own choice about roles, but when I didn't get good roles, I broke down as an artist. Then I got a role of only one scene in TVF Pitchers. People started recognizing me because of that one scene, then the confidence came back. After that worked in Devashish Makhija's short film 'Agli Baar' and 'Tandav'.

Due to this short film, Devashish Makhija got a chance in the film 'Ajji'. When I got the opportunity in this film, I was afraid that I would not be able to do it as it was the first time I got a big role in this film. God gave me some support and gave me courage. My confidence came back after the first scene. Played the role of a rapist in this film. whom people looked upon with hatred.'

'Amar Kaushik said that he reminded me of Amrish Puri Sahib' After watching my film 'Ajji', Amar Kaushik said that you reminded me of Amrish Puri Sahib. It was a great compliment in my life. A few months later, his film 'Stri' was starting. When I called him, he called for Janana's audition. Although I was not selected at first. Someone else was playing that role. Producer Dinesh Vijan felt that there should be another option for Jana's character. Amar showed my audition to Dinesh Vijan and thus the film was finalized.'

Even after the films entered the 100 crore club, there was a fear of ending the career After 'Stree', 'Dream Girl' and 'Bala', I was being offered comedy roles. These three films were included in the 100 crore club. I didn't want to do the same kind of roles. That's why I refused many films. I thought my career would end like this. I won't get any other character, but when the web series 'Paatal Lok' was released during covid, seeing the character of Hathoda Tyagi changed people's perception. However, Emraan wanted to play the role of Ansari in the series, which was played by Ishwak Singh.'

Started experimenting with different characters

After 'Paatal Lok', psycho characters started to appear. Again the thought started coming to mind that what to do now? Around the same time, my film 'Rashmi Rocket' came out, in which Lower's character was completely different. It was a different experience for me. He then started experimenting with different characters.

Abhishek Banerjee's dream of working with Amitabh Bachchan came true in 'Section 84'

Bachchan Sahib is the Dronacharya of my life'

Be it web series or films, I have had the opportunity to play different characters. It was my dream to work with Amitabh Bachchan sir. Which ended in the film 'Section 84'. I consider him my guru. I took admission in Kirodi Mal College, Delhi, because Bachchan Sahib studied there. Bachchan Sahib is the Dronacharya of my life. Working with him made me realize what a great artist he is. Both of us have a lot of great scenes in the film which the audience will enjoy watching.'

'Reprimanded when I stepped on them'

'When I met Bachchan sahib and touched his feet, he scolded me and said – don't do all this. Bachchan Sahib does not like anyone touching his feet. After a while, the director of the film, Ribhu Dasgupta, introduced us and said that you both studied from the same college. Bachchan sahib liked this very much. At that time I felt that I am not talking to such a big star, but to my college senior. He still has the energy of a young person.'

Got emotional after hearing the monologue and started crying

In one scene of the film, Bachchan sahib has a 10-minute monologue. Bachchan sahib was supposed to speak that monologue in front of someone else, but seeing the love and respect towards me, he decided to speak in front of me. Bachchan Sahib understood that I consider him as my guru. Hearing that dialogue, I got so emotional that I started crying.'