Actor Abhishek Banerjee who recently appeared on Stree 2 noted that casting couch issues in Bollywood have significantly decreased. The actor also reacts to the Hema committee report.
The Justice Hema Committee’s recent revelations have undoubtedly left the nation shell-shocked. The allegations laid bare in the report about the Malayalam cinema world have instigated concerns over the health of the work atmosphere in showbiz. Numerous film stars have begun to voice their reactions – the latest being actor Abhishek Banerjee who was recently seen in Stree 2. Banerjee slammed the conclusions drawn in the report, pointing the finger at the chain of command, ingrained in the film industry, as the culprit.
Abhishek Banerjee On Hema Committee Report: ‘Sach Bataun Toh Humne…’
Talking to News 18 Showsha Abhishek Banerjee said, “As for my company, we had a very simple rule that we will not let any of our employees meet any actor – male or female – outside the office premises. Nobody is allowed to meet any actor outside the office – no coffee meetings, no dinner meetings, no drink meetings. You’re an actor, come to the office, meet us for discussions and go. It has happened in my company also. Somebody sent a message at night to an actress and all that and I got to know. We immediately fired them (sic).”
The Stree 2 actor further empasised, “Sach bataun toh humne toh bohot clean kar diya hai casting departments main. When I became a casting director, that’s exactly the first thing I said. Anmol (the co-founder of his company, Casting Bay) and I discussed that we will not keep the name of the company as ‘Abhishek and Anmol Ahuja Company’. We didn’t even give our credits as Abhishek Banerjee and Anmol Ahuja. We always gave our credit as ‘Casting Bay’ so that the power doesn’t lie with us. The problem is the power structure. It’s a feudal mindset. India is deep down still stuck to that feudal mindset that some saviour will come and save you. We are so weak that we will do anything for that saviour. We are very scared to speak up (sic).”
Abhishek shared his observation that there’s considerable evolution in Bollywood regarding the notorious casting couch issue. He applauded the industry’s progression where the audience now appreciates the value of legitimate casting. The correlation of casting directors with the infamous ‘casting couch’ practice has dwindled, and such discussions are occurring less frequently.
The earlier scenario was more about sensationalism, but these days, casting is marked by a notable shift towards professionalism. Abhishek recalled about a disturbing instance when he was immediately tagged with the casting couch stereotype due to his casting director role, leading to an embarrassing and uncomfortable situation for him.
The 39-year-old actor told the media portal, “We should stop calling them powerful. Whoever is trying to be a predator is not powerful. They are scared, so they’re telling you to meet them alone at night. We need to clearly understand the difference between powerful and powerless people. Predators are cowards, that’s why they’re trying to oppress a weaker victim when nobody is watching (sic).”
Abhishek Banerjee’s Work Front
Abhishek Banerjee, apart from starring in projects like Stree 2, Stree, and Paatal Lok. He’s also a casting director with his own company, Casting Bay, that he set up eight years ago. Known for his keen eye for talent, he’s indeed the brains behind casting for renowned films including No One Killed Jessica, The Sky Is Pink, and The Dirty Picture, showcasing his range in the film industry.
