Bollywood actor Abhishek Banerjee has carved a niche for himself as a versatile actor who manages to transform seamlessly from chilling villains to lovable characters onscreen. He returned to the OTT space as Gautam in Karan Tejpal's film Stolen, which has once again earned him rave reviews.
Known for his loving roles as Jana in Stree and Hathoda Tyagi in Paatal Lok, Abhishek Banerjee’s rise has been slow, steady, and deeply rooted in craft over glamour.
In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Abhishek revealed to us the characters that have had a profound effect on him.
In reference to his breakout part in the super hit horror-comedy Stree (2018 and 2024), he said, "Jana is closest to my childhood."
The naive, loyal friend of Rajkummar Rao’s character brought a perfect blend of comic timing and emotional depth to the hit film.
"I was very much like a Jana in my childhood. I was too sweet. A few decades back. But Jana helps me to be grounded and helps me to remain naive."
He believes that in a fast-paced metro like Mumbai, that sense of innocence is essential—not just for the role, but also for surviving the industry’s chaos.
"I need to be naive to be able to play Jana,” he added, noting how the character continues to keep him humble.
But while Jana may connect him to his past, it is Stolen’s Gautam that brings Abhishek face-to-face with himself in the present. "The closest I have been to myself is Gautam. I don’t think I tried to be some other person. I tried to be me. So, whatever you see—good or bad—is definitely a part of me.”
Born in Kharagpur, West Bengal, Abhishek studied at Delhi University's Kirori Mal College and it was there that his passion for acting blossomed.
A product of the Delhi theater circuit, Abhishek honed his skills in mimicry and voice modulation early on.
"I started with mimicry,” he recalled. “My first job was actually Gustakhi Maaf, that puppet show. I used to do Sachin Tendulkar and Rajnath Singh’s voices — that was my first professional acting gig."
Abhishek says it is this early interest in body language and vocal dexterity that helped him shape his acting career in the industry.
He views acting as an immersive experience: “I just love getting into the different skins and souls… feel the way their heart will beat or the way their brain will function.”
He shifted from Delhi to Mumbai in 2008, and not many would know that he had a small role in Aamir Khan's Rang De Basanti. Before making it big with his role as Hathoda Tyagi in the hit Pataal Lok Season 1 (2020), he worked mainly as a casting director.
Paatal Lok (2020) significantly elevated Abhishek's profile. As Hathoda Tyagi, the chillingly quiet killer, he impresses audiences and critics alike with his haunting presence.
Without many lines, Abhishek Banerjee conveyed brutality, vulnerability, and deep trauma — a masterclass in restraint and intensity.
The performance proved that he was more than just a sidekick or comic relief — he was a lead actor with range and grit.
Abhishek, who was a student of literature at Delhi University, says he's also someone who deeply understands cinema as a collaborative, adaptive art.
“Cinema is a wide medium — it's not just about commercial or indie. Every film has a different format, and it’s the actor’s job to adapt,” he said. “I completely surrender myself to the director’s vision.”
Directors like Amar Kaushik (Stree) and Karan Tejpal (Stolen) have praised his malleability and depth. Banerjee expresses gratitude to these directors for challenging his limits and fostering his growth in each role.
"And also being open with the idea that cinema is a very wide medium. It is not restricted to just commercial cinema or Indie cinema or, you know, every film has a different format. It's an actor's job to adapt to different formats of directors. So you can't just say, this director wants me to do a certain way because that's the biggest conflict actors go through, that they won't want to change their style. But I think I am someone, I don't know if it's good or bad, but I'm someone who loves changing my style according to the makeup. I completely surrender myself like that. And I'm grateful that, you know, I have directors like Amar Kaushik or Karan Tejpal who could take me through that journey of the respective characters," he told us.
Now a familiar face across genres and platforms, Abhishek Banerjee is redefining what it means to be a character actor in India. His journey — from mimicry sessions to becoming one of Bollywood’s most exciting performers — is inspiring for many upcoming actors and performers who aim to make it big in the film industry.
Abhishek was recently seen in Stolen directed by Karan Tejpal, which is streaming on Amazon Prime.
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