Abhishek Banerjee is an actor that has brought a lot of funny moments in Stree 2. The Horror Comedy Cinematic Universe actors have been consistent with his roles throughout the movies. He spoke to Bollywood Hungama about this and more.
On Stree 2’s success, congratulations. We haven’t laughed so hard for ages…
Yeah… that is what everybody is saying! It looks like it’s festive season in cinemas!
You also feel sorry for your character Jana because his friends are always getting him into trouble …
(Laughter) Dost aise hi hote hai. I just loved the script because it shows true friendship. In friendship, you don’t give tapli to your friend and do such kind of small mischief. Actually, dost jo hote hai, woh harami hote hai!
I hope you will take revenge on them before running away to dangerous situations in Stree 3…
That’s good!
The reaction in cinema halls for Stree 2 is phenomenal…
I never saw those people celebrating, whistling or clapping for films especially Bachchan saab’s film; I used to feel bad that ‘Why are we in this era and why don’t we get to see it’. Last year, I did witness it happening in Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Jawan. I specifically went to watch these movies so that I can learn ‘Yeh hota kya hai’! And when that happens for your own film, you have no idea how special that feels.
I have already met people who have seen the film multiple times. There was a man selling tissues on the road who came up to me saying ‘Sir,mene isko chaar baar dekha’! To my disbelief, ‘film abhi toh release bhi nahi hui thi yaar. Chaar baar kaise dekh li tune’?! He replied, ‘I am watching it daily’! This is surreal and unreal!
You mentioned Pathaan and Jawan. Both collected Rs. 500 crores and Stree is also on its way to enter the coveted club and maybe, even beat those films. Are you tracking the box office figures?
I’m just looking at the audience’s reactions, not the numbers. My friend went to see the film in Maratha Mandir, a huge cinema hall. I saw the reactions out there – people were cheering and whistling. This means a lot to me and hence, I don’t care anymore about the numbers. That’s also because I am not getting any money from it (laughs)! On a serious note, it’s great for Dinesh Vijan, Maddock Films as well as the entire industry. It motivates them to back films like this which is grounded on a good script and direction. It’s a win for the industry and marks the beginning of a new wave. Wherever we land doesn’t matter; we are already standing tall holding hands with many biggies and big hits of yesteryears together with us that have stood in this industry till now.
In Stree 2, when Sarkata bites you, you scream loudly ‘Arre kaat diya re daiya’! The house fell due to the way you said it. Kindly walk us through what it takes to get your act together…
I have a small trivia for you. In Bhediya (2022), Jana says ‘Arre kaat liya re daiya’ when the beast bites Varun Dhawan for the first time. That one for Varun because I felt bad that he got bitten. So, this time around when I read through the script, I was like ‘Arre iss baar toh yeh mere saath ho raha hai’! For me comedy is just about being present at that moment. Still, there is an uprightness on my character since I am saying those words again. In any case, we all possess some form of language don’t we? So, Jana is doing exactly what he’s doing in Stree (2018), Bhediya and Stree 2.
The next dialogue in part 2 goes “Galti iski nahin, galti iske baap ki hai”. It has a linkage with the first part too. Viewers may forget but Jana doesn’t and would talk about it. Basically, I was venting out frustration from part one . The best thing about it is that I get to live his life and carry him with me everywhere.
Both scenes same situation same dialogue Bhediya X stree ???? @nowitsabhi pic.twitter.com/5j5nXZmAwX
— sahil. (@shutupsahill) August 21, 2024
Your scene with Akshay Kumar will never be forgotten. Was it difficult restraining yourself from laughing during that scene?
The excitement made me stay on my toes before him because I knew it was Akshay Kumar who happens to be comedy king himself. He is an actor I admire most and who gave us movies like Hera Pheri Welcome Awara Paagal Deewana etc.. A few things can never leave my mind from the latter, for instance when he says to Paresh Rawal “Chal, coffee peete hai”. Garam Masala has been watched by me more than ten times.
So, when I was told that I was going to do a scene with Akshay Kumar, I knew that it was going to be a blast. I love comedy and I knew he liked comedy also. What you saw on screen there was two actors jamming. It’s like how two musicians jam. Guitar aur tabla leke bajate hai na musicians, waise hi hum dono jam kar rahe the. We were having fun and because of that, even the audience was having fun.
Varun Dhawan came to know about your crush on Kiara Advani one day while shooting Bhediya and immediately called her up then handed you over the phone. We’d like what she had said…
She is too sweet, bro. She even sent me a message after the release of “Stree 2”. It made me so happy. Varun asked if I have some crush on someone. I told him I like Kiara Advani, just like millions of people do. This was said by pure heart and innocence. What I didn’t know is that he would call her to give me the phone. I was so embarrassed (laughs). But she’s too damn sweet. Varun is that badmaash friend who can get into troubles for me.
What should we expect from the next installments of this universe?
Madness alone, y’all! Though about the script, i don’t have any idea but it will be insane definitely. This world cannot be stopped at any cost Amar Kaushik and Niren Bhatt are going to work harder than before; they know that what they are doing here matters most Finally, they were experimenting because they were not sure how it may go down with fans However, once you become confident enough you become free Toh maza aayega!! And also excited am I.
