Why does Abhishek at times feel that he has two personalities?
Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who is also a renowned casting director, shares that he never faced the dilemma of whether to work in a film as an actor or see others audition for the same. And he says that he clearly maintains a balance and clear demarcation between both.
“I take it as a dual job. When I am acting I am gullible, vulnerable, jumping around and trying to know more. But when I am casting, I am calm and patient. I enjoy doing both and at times I feel that I have two personalities. If I have to choose, then obviously I will go for acting as it’s more enjoyable. That’s something inherent. In my 10th standard my teacher once told me that ‘tu nautanki hi kar’ and I took her seriously and she changed my life. Acting is something that I always wanted to do,” says Abhishek, who plays the character of Jana in the recently released horrorcomedy Stree, also starring Rajkummar Rao, Shradhha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and Aparshakti Khurrana.
Jana is like a mamma’s boy who knows what he wants from his life. The actor is happy with the reaction the film is getting and he asserts that it helps him in understanding what would be the best way ahead as far as acting is concerned.
Given the fact that a casting director gets many pitches from actors and producer, Abhishek has a bundle of interesting stories to share.
When prodded, he thinks for a moment and shares how actor Jaideep Ahlawat got selected for Dibakar Banerjee’s part of the short film Lust Stories.
“Dibakar Banerjee gave me a 12 pager scene and I asked him which part should I use for the auditions and he was like the entire 12 page. I was flabbergasted and I wanted actor Jaideep Ahlawat to do it but he said he won’t be able to after looking at the 12 pager scene. Even when he came for the audition he looked nervous. But then it was unbelievable how he okayed the audition in just one take. And we all know how he performed in the film,” he says.
When I am acting I am gullible, vulnerable, jumping around and trying to know more. But when I am casting, I am calm and patient.
ABHISHEK BANERJEE ACTORCASTING DIRECTOR