After nearly twenty years away from the stage, actor Abhishek Banerjee—best known for his role as Jana in the hit “Stree” films—is making a heartfelt return to theatre with a sharp, satirical play called Tu Kya Hai.
Abhishek’s journey actually began in theatre, performing in plays around Delhi before stepping into the world of Bollywood. Now, he’s reuniting with his old theatre friends to bring this one-man show to life at Mumbai’s National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) later this month.
Speaking about his comeback, Abhishek shared, “Theatre is where I learnt to breathe as an artist. It taught me rhythm, truth, and how to fail without fear. For the last 20 years, my journey has been about chasing roles, telling stories, and building a career in cinema but somewhere, the stage kept calling me back.”
Tu Kya Hai is a sharp and witty take on the lives of countless dreamers who leave behind the comfort of home to chase their ambitions as performers. The journey they undertake is full of struggle, moments of pain, and unexpected humour—where tragedy and comedy often blend together.
The play unfolds in three parts. It starts with the story of a typical middle-class Indian family who see art only as a hobby. It then shifts to the chaotic, often funny hustle of Mumbai’s entertainment world. Finally, it dives into the quiet, personal battles artists face late at night—the moments of doubt and self-reflection that many will recognise.
For Abhishek, this play is deeply personal. He explained, “It’s about that late-night whisper we all hear ‘Tu kya hai?’ when the lights are off, and the applause has faded. Coming back to the theatre to perform with my old theatre friends feels like closing a circle, or maybe starting a new one. This isn’t just a play for me it’s a homecoming.”
With Tu Kya Hai, Abhishek isn’t just returning to the stage—he’s inviting audiences to join him on an honest, intimate journey about ambition, identity, and the often messy path of being an artist. It’s a story that’s as much about him as it is about anyone who’s ever wondered who they really are.
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