Did you know Abhishek Banerjee was depressed despite Stree’s success? Says ‘Everybody wanted me to wear some rangeela, chamkeela…’

Did you know Abhishek Banerjee was depressed despite Stree’s success? Says ‘Everybody wanted me to wear some rangeela, chamkeela…’

As a devoted follower of the enigmatic world of Indian cinema, I have had the privilege to witness the transformation of an unsung hero into a household name – Abhishek Banerjee. His journey is not just a tale of success but also resilience and the ability to rise above stereotypes.


Abhishek Banerjee is one of those actors who spent years doing minor roles before the public truly appreciated his talent. Beginning in theatre and later working as a casting director, he made his acting debut in Rang De Basanti. However, it was his role as Jana in Stree that catapulted him to fame. Despite the 2018 horror comedy film’s success, Banerjee struggled with depression shortly after.

During an interview with News 18, Abhishek Banerjee openly acknowledged that his ‘big break’ with Stree typecast him as a comedic actor. He revealed that subsequent roles offered to him were often quirky characters, requiring him to dress flamboyantly and speak in a specific manner. However, he clarified that while he identifies with the character, it doesn’t reflect his true self.

Following my breakout roles in films such as Dream Girl and Bala, it seemed like I had been typecast as a comedic actor, which put immense pressure on me. During this challenging period, I found myself battling depression, feeling as though I was limited by the public’s perception of me. In retrospect, I remember thinking that there was little hope for me to prove myself beyond this stereotype and carve out a new path in my career.

After making this statement, he expressed his gratitude towards filmmaker Sudip Sharma for casting him as Hathoda Tyagi in Paatal Lok. “He must have thought of it after seeing Stree,” the actor enthusiastically said.

Abhishek felt content when he successfully completed his role in Pataal Lok. However, he found himself facing the same stereotype and started receiving offers for psychopath characters again. Now, Abhishek is determined to prove that he can take on normal roles as well. He described himself as ‘persistent’ and also shared his desire to explore various genres such as drama, romance, and everything in between, as seen in The Stree 2.

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2024-08-24 22:23