<p>We have seen sports dramas before. Films on the underdog, battling the odds and emerging as a winner is a known trope. But filmmaker Akarsh Khurana's new film 'Rashmi Rocket' stands out because it tries to above and beyond the usual. It may focus on one individual, but the film narrates an important story about the plight of female athletes in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a country that is obsessed with cricket, 'Rashmi Rocket' comes as a breath of fresh air. Not only does it focus on female athletes and highlight the hard work they put in to represent our country, but also talk of how so many of them, despite their talent, fall prey to the rather arbitrary gender test which puts a break to so many of their thriving career on the track.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Taapsee" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bde26b9a-6702-43f2-9e3c-151ca8f4e428" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_76.jpg" /></p>

<p>Rashmi Vira(<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/bollywood/news-taapsee-pannu%E2%80%99s-eye-roll-worthy-name-for-her-new-production-house-proves-just-how-badass-she-truly-is-398199">Taapsee Pannu</a>) is a gifted athlete and has been a star in her village in kutch. Raised differently by her spirited parents (Manoj Joshi and Supriya Pathak Kapoor), Rashmi grows up as one of the boys. A chance meeting with an Army officer(Priyanshu Painyuli), who also happens to be a former athlete and now trainer, makes her compete at the state level. Since she is the fastest runner in her state and perhaps in the country, in her category, the National Athletic Federation takes her in soon to coach her for the upcoming Asian Games.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-exclusive--abhishek-banerjee-on-nepotism-talent-will-always-be-a-rocket-420739" hreflang="en">Exclusive | Abhishek Banerjee on nepotism: Talent will always be a 'rocket'</a></p>

<p>Problems start brewing soon. First at the training camp when a few fellow athletes question her speed and later post her successful stint at the Asian Games, she is forced to undergo a gender test which bans her from competing in the international arena- stating that her testosterone is higher than an average woman's.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KJoEX6Peqhw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Rashmi initially doesn't want to take up the case, but a bit of nudging from her mother, husband and an out-of-luck lawyer (Abhishek Banerjee) makes her fight back. Rashmi takes the federation to court in a case of human rights violation.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Written by Nanda Periyasamy with a screenplay by Aniruddha Guha and an adittional screenplay by Kanika Dhillon, 'Rashmi Rocket' starts on a predictable course. Sports drama usually have certain moments on the field that are considered at the high point of the narrative. But that's not the case with the film. It doesn't get into too many details of Rashmi's rise in the international circuit. The film elevates, surprisingly, in the courtroom, when Rashmi is banned and fighting a case that has unfairly put her off the field.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Featuring actors like Zafar Karachiwala, Supriya Pilgaonkar as the no-nonsense judge, and of course Banerjee as the nervous but righteous advocate fighting for Rashmi, the courtroom scenes are the most engaging which some impactful dialogues and moments.</p>

<p><img alt="Taapsee" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="093efdaa-854d-43a7-b107-e3faa1dee891" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/happy%2030th%20birthday%20-%202021-10-14T202942.825.jpg" /></p>

<p>The scenes where the narrative slowly takes on the unfair system, highlighting how female athletes are discriminated against at all times compared to their male counterparts are not just informative but also makes you realise the glaring loopholes in the system.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The film boasts of great performances. Be it Taapsee Pannu who plays the protagonist with utmost conviction, delivering a restraint performance in a film that is going to be an important one in her repositories, but also actors like Abhishek Banerjee, Supriya Pathak, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Manoj Joshi. The film's male lead Priyanshu Painyuli, plays the supportive partner to Taapsee with conviction, although their romance is shown fleetingly.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/on-tapsee-pannu-34th-birthday-a-look-at-her-most-remarkable-on-screen-performances-402181" hreflang="en">On Tapsee Pannu 34th birthday, a look at her most remarkable on-screen performances</a></p>

<p>Rashmi's equations with her parents and her husband are not given the emphasis that ideally should be given. We are told she drew her strength from her father. She seems to have a difficult, slightly dramatic relation with her mother who keeps blackmailing her to get her to do things and her attraction towards Painyuli's character is also never clearly shown. The film only is fleshed out properly in the second half, when the courtroom scenes take place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite these flaws, 'Rashmi Rocket' is an important film. It treads on an unknown track and it shines because of its important message. The film doesn't narrate just one woman's struggle in a field that is biased towards men, but it represents all those women who have in the past faded due to unfair practices in sports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Rashmi Rocket' is streaming on ZEE5 from October 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-taapsee-pannu-approaches-robert-downey-jr-on-social-media-gets-the-cold-shoulder-396137" hreflang="en">Taapsee Pannu approaches Robert Downey Jr on social media, gets the cold shoulder</a></p>


We have seen sports dramas before. Films on the underdog, battling the odds and emerging as a winner is a known trope. But filmmaker Akarsh Khurana's new film 'Rashmi Rocket' stands out because it tries to above and beyond the usual.

We have seen sports dramas before. Films on the underdog, battling the odds and emerging as a winner is a known trope. But filmmaker Akarsh Khurana's new film 'Rashmi Rocket' stands out because it tries to above and beyond the usual. It may focus on one individual, but the film narrates an important story about the plight of female athletes in India. In a country that is obsessed with cricket, 'Rashmi Rocket' comes as a breath of fresh air. Not only does it focus on female athletes and highlight the hard work they put in to represent our country, but also talk of how so many of them, despite their talent, fall prey to the rather arbitrary gender test which puts a break to so many of their thriving career on the track. Rashmi Vira(Taapsee Pannu) is a gifted athlete and has been a star in her village in kutch. Raised differently by her spirited parents (Manoj Joshi and Supriya Pathak Kapoor), Rashmi grows up as one of the boys. A chance meeting with an Army officer(Priyanshu Painyuli), who also happens to be a former athlete and now trainer, makes her compete at the state level. Since she is the fastest runner in her state and perhaps in the country, in her category, the National Athletic Federation takes her in soon to coach her for the upcoming Asian Games. Exclusive | Abhishek Banerjee on nepotism: Talent will always be a 'rocket' Problems start brewing soon. First at the training camp when a few fellow athletes question her speed and later post her successful stint at the Asian Games, she is forced to undergo a gender test which bans her from competing in the international arena- stating that her testosterone is higher than an average woman's. Rashmi initially doesn't want to take up the case, but a bit of nudging from her mother, husband and an out-of-luck lawyer (Abhishek Banerjee) makes her fight back. Rashmi takes the federation to court in a case of human rights violation. Written by Nanda Periyasamy with a screenplay by Aniruddha Guha and an adittional screenplay by Kanika Dhillon, 'Rashmi Rocket' starts on a predictable course. Sports drama usually have certain moments on the field that are considered at the high point of the narrative. But that's not the case with the film. It doesn't get into too many details of Rashmi's rise in the international circuit. The film elevates, surprisingly, in the courtroom, when Rashmi is banned and fighting a case that has unfairly put her off the field. Featuring actors like Zafar Karachiwala, Supriya Pilgaonkar as the no-nonsense judge, and of course Banerjee as the nervous but righteous advocate fighting for Rashmi, the courtroom scenes are the most engaging which some impactful dialogues and moments. The scenes where the narrative slowly takes on the unfair system, highlighting how female athletes are discriminated against at all times compared to their male counterparts are not just informative but also makes you realise the glaring loopholes in the system. The film boasts of great performances. Be it Taapsee Pannu who plays the protagonist with utmost conviction, delivering a restraint performance in a film that is going to be an important one in her repositories, but also actors like Abhishek Banerjee, Supriya Pathak, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Manoj Joshi. The film's male lead Priyanshu Painyuli, plays the supportive partner to Taapsee with conviction, although their romance is shown fleetingly. On Tapsee Pannu 34th birthday, a look at her most remarkable on-screen performances Rashmi's equations with her parents and her husband are not given the emphasis that ideally should be given. We are told she drew her strength from her father. She seems to have a difficult, slightly dramatic relation with her mother who keeps blackmailing her to get her to do things and her attraction towards Painyuli's character is also never clearly shown. The film only is fleshed out properly in the second half, when the courtroom scenes take place. Despite these flaws, 'Rashmi Rocket' is an important film. It treads on an unknown track and it shines because of its important message. The film doesn't narrate just one woman's struggle in a field that is biased towards men, but it represents all those women who have in the past faded due to unfair practices in sports. 'Rashmi Rocket' is streaming on ZEE5 from October 15. Taapsee Pannu approaches Robert Downey Jr on social media, gets the cold shoulder

'Rashmi Rocket' review: Taapsee Pannu's sports drama is right on track 

<p>In her new film, Taapsee Pannu plays a promising athlete who faces a ban due to a gross case of human violation. The trailer of 'Rashmi Rocket' was released on Thursday and the film promises to be a hard-hitting tale of an individual's fight for justice.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Taapsee took to her Instagram handle and shared the trailer, along with the caption, "Miliye Rashmi se, jiske liye haar jeet to parinam hai, koshish humara kaam hai."</p>

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<p>Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya, 'Rashmi Rocket' has been written by Nanda Periyasamy, Aniruddha Guha and Kanika Dhillon and also stars Supriya Pathak, Abhishek Banerjee, Priyanshu Painyuli and Supriya Pilgaonkar.<br />
<br />
The plot of 'Rashmi Rocket' revolves around a country girl who dreams of becoming an international athlete.&nbsp;<br />
The trailer opens with Taapsee`s Rashmi being introduced as a talented runner, since her childhood.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She wins accolades for the country and climbs up the ladder of success. However, her life takes a turn when she's called in for a gender verification test, leaving her shattered. The trailer shows scenes where she`s disparaged after the gender test`s results, with one scene showing her in a male prison cell.<br />
<br />
Accused of being a fraud and banned from the national team, she decides to challenge every obstacle and eventually files a human rights violation case with the help of a lawyer, played by Abhishek and fights for justice.<br />
Living up to the movie's title, the film showcases an inspiring narrative of its lead protagonist and her journey to become 'Rashmi Rocket'.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Speaking about the film, Taapsee, in a statement said, "This film is very differently special. I`ve always been approached when either the script or the director is ready to make the film but one line of this story fell in my lap in Chennai and then from there to it becoming a full fledged film has been a feeling I haven`t experienced with any other film before."<br />
<br />
She further added, "Everyone was just so sure about the story from day 1 that it was never a tough job to convince any of the stakeholders to join hands and give their best for this film. Hence the result of this film will affect me a lot more than my other films. Also, I`m extremely proud of it."</p>

<p>The film will stream on ZEE 5 from October 15 onwards.</p>


In her new film, Taapsee Pannu plays a promising athlete who faces a ban due to a gross case of human violation. The trailer of 'Rashmi Rocket' was released on Thursday and the film promises to be a hard-hitting tale of an individual's fight for justice.

In her new film, Taapsee Pannu plays a promising athlete who faces a ban due to a gross case of human violation. The trailer of 'Rashmi Rocket' was released on Thursday and the film promises to be a hard-hitting tale of an individual's fight for justice. Taapsee took to her Instagram handle and shared the trailer, along with the caption, "Miliye Rashmi se, jiske liye haar jeet to parinam hai, koshish humara kaam hai." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taapsee Pannu (@taapsee) × Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya, 'Rashmi Rocket' has been written by Nanda Periyasamy, Aniruddha Guha and Kanika Dhillon and also stars Supriya Pathak, Abhishek Banerjee, Priyanshu Painyuli and Supriya Pilgaonkar. The plot of 'Rashmi Rocket' revolves around a country girl who dreams of becoming an international athlete. The trailer opens with Taapsee`s Rashmi being introduced as a talented runner, since her childhood. She wins accolades for the country and climbs up the ladder of success. However, her life takes a turn when she's called in for a gender verification test, leaving her shattered. The trailer shows scenes where she`s disparaged after the gender test`s results, with one scene showing her in a male prison cell. Accused of being a fraud and banned from the national team, she decides to challenge every obstacle and eventually files a human rights violation case with the help of a lawyer, played by Abhishek and fights for justice. Living up to the movie's title, the film showcases an inspiring narrative of its lead protagonist and her journey to become 'Rashmi Rocket'. Speaking about the film, Taapsee, in a statement said, "This film is very differently special. I`ve always been approached when either the script or the director is ready to make the film but one line of this story fell in my lap in Chennai and then from there to it becoming a full fledged film has been a feeling I haven`t experienced with any other film before." She further added, "Everyone was just so sure about the story from day 1 that it was never a tough job to convince any of the stakeholders to join hands and give their best for this film. Hence the result of this film will affect me a lot more than my other films. Also, I`m extremely proud of it." The film will stream on ZEE 5 from October 15 onwards.

'Rashmi Rocket' trailer: Taapsee Pannu fights for justice in this sports drama

<p>Fighting off a social stigma, influencing one person at a time in a small town of India is what ‘Helmet’ is all about. Starring Aparshakti Khurana. Pranutan Bahl, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ashish Verma in leading roles as they play a gang of friends, ‘Helmet’ looks objectively at the guilt or shame attached to buying/ selling a birth-control device, a condom.</p>

<p>Director Satramm Ramani establishes the ground for need of change when people from an NGO that works on AIDS/ STDs are thrashed by the locals for questioning about the practice of safe sex in the town. The film enforces the idea of ‘chahiye sabko, par koi mangega nahi’ pretty early in the film shedding light on the need for a psychological overhaul.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interview-%E2%80%98helmet%E2%80%99-actress-pranutan-bahl-on-being-nutan%E2%80%99s-granddaughter-and-belonging-to-a-family-of-staunch-feminists-410349">Pranutan Bahl to WION: I come from a family of staunch feminists</a></p>

<p>It’s a fun, light hearted film with more misses than hits as it drags because of lazy dialogues, loose scripting and comedy that looks off in most places even though it has the trio of boys who we have seen performing with on-point comedy in a similar semi-urban setting before. The only female character in the film, Pranutan Bahl is good in her role but there is a lot of room for improvement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch the Helmet trailer here:</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="440" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rf_snzTOkPA" title="YouTube video player" width="782"></iframe></p>

<p>The film’s music is pretty average and offers almost no song that will stick with the audience.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What works is the film has its heart in the right place as it talks of important subjects like safe sex, using birth-control, saving oneself from STDs and AIDS without being preachy for a moment. There are no lengthy speeches and that’s a sigh of relief.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What doesn’t work is the lacklustre storytelling that makes the film indistinguishable from any other recent social objective films we’ve seen. It promises to be funny but doesn’t live up to it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Produced: Sony Pictures Networks Productions and actor Dino Morea’s DM Movies, ‘Helmet’ will stream on Zee5 from September 3, 2021.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Fighting off a social stigma, influencing one person at a time in a small town of India is what ‘Helmet’ is all about. Starring Aparshakti Khurana. Pranutan Bahl, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ashish Verma in leading roles as they play a gang of friends, ‘Helmet’ looks objectively at the guilt or shame attached to buying/ selling a birth-control device, a condom.

Fighting off a social stigma, influencing one person at a time in a small town of India is what ‘Helmet’ is all about. Starring Aparshakti Khurana. Pranutan Bahl, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ashish Verma in leading roles as they play a gang of friends, ‘Helmet’ looks objectively at the guilt or shame attached to buying/ selling a birth-control device, a condom. Director Satramm Ramani establishes the ground for need of change when people from an NGO that works on AIDS/ STDs are thrashed by the locals for questioning about the practice of safe sex in the town. The film enforces the idea of ‘chahiye sabko, par koi mangega nahi’ pretty early in the film shedding light on the need for a psychological overhaul. Pranutan Bahl to WION: I come from a family of staunch feminists It’s a fun, light hearted film with more misses than hits as it drags because of lazy dialogues, loose scripting and comedy that looks off in most places even though it has the trio of boys who we have seen performing with on-point comedy in a similar semi-urban setting before. The only female character in the film, Pranutan Bahl is good in her role but there is a lot of room for improvement. Watch the Helmet trailer here: The film’s music is pretty average and offers almost no song that will stick with the audience. What works is the film has its heart in the right place as it talks of important subjects like safe sex, using birth-control, saving oneself from STDs and AIDS without being preachy for a moment. There are no lengthy speeches and that’s a sigh of relief. What doesn’t work is the lacklustre storytelling that makes the film indistinguishable from any other recent social objective films we’ve seen. It promises to be funny but doesn’t live up to it. Produced: Sony Pictures Networks Productions and actor Dino Morea’s DM Movies, ‘Helmet’ will stream on Zee5 from September 3, 2021.

‘Helmet’ film review: A social satire that could have been more funny

<p>Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who features in the 'Khilauna'&nbsp;segment of the upcoming Netflix anthology 'Ajeeb Daastaans', says he initially could not believe that the movie was being made by Dharma Productions. The film, which features four shorts from filmmakers Neeraj Ghaywan, Kayoze Irani, Shashank Khaitan and Raj Mehta, is the latest anthology to come out of Dharmatic, the digital content company of Karan Johar-led Dharma Productions.</p>

<p>The movie, as its title suggests, is about the third wheel in relationships and explores complex themes of fractured relationships, and human emotions such as jealousy, entitlement, prejudices and toxicity, and their effects.</p>

<p>Banerjee, known for his scene-stealing acts in movies and shows such as 'Pataal Lok', 'Stree', 'Mirzapur'&nbsp;and 'Bala', said the film was different from the ones that have come out of Dharma, which is primarily known for its love stories and family dramas. "It took me a little time to accept the fact that this was happening at Dharma. Because you have a very different image about the production house and also the director... Suddenly you reach the set and realise that it is actually being made.</p>

<p>"So in the process of the film, I realised what we are making and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey," the 35-year-old actor told PTI in an interview.</p>

<p>Directed by Mehta of 'Good Newwz'&nbsp;fame, 'Khilauna'&nbsp;also features Nushrratt Bharuccha and child actor Inayat Verma. The movie presents the dark and twisted tale of a housemaid trying to make things better for her and her little sister.</p>

<p>Banerjee plays the role of Sushil, who works as a person who irons clothes to earn his living. Not just the banner, the actor said he had a different perception about the film's director as well. "The script was the major factor because I was blown away by the story. When we started working on it, the first trailer of 'Good Newwz'&nbsp;had been launched.</p>

<p>"When I met him, I realised that it was actually a very dark world that they are creating. So, it was a great opportunity for me to work with a great production house and a great director. It was always a win-win situation."</p>

<p>In 2020, Banerjee was praised for his performance as Vishal 'Hathoda'&nbsp;Tyagi, a notorious hitman in smash-hit Banerjee said he has been keenly observing people from a young age and in turn, tries to bring their traits and nuances into his characters.</p>

<p>"I relate to everybody in the society and therefore, I want my characters to feel relatable to the audience. I observe society very closely and I just talk to everyone.</p>

<p>"I don't have this hierarchy in my mind that I should talk to people who belong to the upper class. I like to interact with everyone and try to find out about their personal stories. If there's a carpenter working at home, then I will start chatting with him about his family. I try to bring these elements in my characters."</p>

<p>'Ajeeb Daastaans', which also features Fatima Sana Shaikh, Jaideep Ahlawat, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shefali Shah and Manav Kaul, will premiere on Netflix on April 16.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who features in the 'Khilauna' segment of the upcoming Netflix anthology 'Ajeeb Daastaans', says he initially could not believe that the movie was being made by Dharma Productions.

Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who features in the 'Khilauna' segment of the upcoming Netflix anthology 'Ajeeb Daastaans', says he initially could not believe that the movie was being made by Dharma Productions. The film, which features four shorts from filmmakers Neeraj Ghaywan, Kayoze Irani, Shashank Khaitan and Raj Mehta, is the latest anthology to come out of Dharmatic, the digital content company of Karan Johar-led Dharma Productions. The movie, as its title suggests, is about the third wheel in relationships and explores complex themes of fractured relationships, and human emotions such as jealousy, entitlement, prejudices and toxicity, and their effects. Banerjee, known for his scene-stealing acts in movies and shows such as 'Pataal Lok', 'Stree', 'Mirzapur' and 'Bala', said the film was different from the ones that have come out of Dharma, which is primarily known for its love stories and family dramas. "It took me a little time to accept the fact that this was happening at Dharma. Because you have a very different image about the production house and also the director... Suddenly you reach the set and realise that it is actually being made. "So in the process of the film, I realised what we are making and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey," the 35-year-old actor told PTI in an interview. Directed by Mehta of 'Good Newwz' fame, 'Khilauna' also features Nushrratt Bharuccha and child actor Inayat Verma. The movie presents the dark and twisted tale of a housemaid trying to make things better for her and her little sister. Banerjee plays the role of Sushil, who works as a person who irons clothes to earn his living. Not just the banner, the actor said he had a different perception about the film's director as well. "The script was the major factor because I was blown away by the story. When we started working on it, the first trailer of 'Good Newwz' had been launched. "When I met him, I realised that it was actually a very dark world that they are creating. So, it was a great opportunity for me to work with a great production house and a great director. It was always a win-win situation." In 2020, Banerjee was praised for his performance as Vishal 'Hathoda' Tyagi, a notorious hitman in smash-hit Banerjee said he has been keenly observing people from a young age and in turn, tries to bring their traits and nuances into his characters. "I relate to everybody in the society and therefore, I want my characters to feel relatable to the audience. I observe society very closely and I just talk to everyone. "I don't have this hierarchy in my mind that I should talk to people who belong to the upper class. I like to interact with everyone and try to find out about their personal stories. If there's a carpenter working at home, then I will start chatting with him about his family. I try to bring these elements in my characters." 'Ajeeb Daastaans', which also features Fatima Sana Shaikh, Jaideep Ahlawat, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shefali Shah and Manav Kaul, will premiere on Netflix on April 16. (With inputs from agencies)

Abhishek Banerjee on his next 'Ajeeb Daastaans': Took me time to believe that it was produced by Dharma

You watched him hold the fort in Rajkummar Rao in ‘Stree’, loved him as Munna Bhaiya’s close aide Compounder in ‘Mirzapur’ but most would agree that actor Abhishek Banerjee really shined in ‘Paatal Lok’ as Hathoda Tyagi, the merciless killer who shows no guilt for his innumerable gross killings as he bludgeons people to death with hathoda (hammer).

You watched him hold the fort in Rajkummar Rao in ‘Stree’, loved him as Munna Bhaiya’s close aide Compounder in ‘Mirzapur’ but most would agree that actor Abhishek Banerjee really shined in ‘Paatal Lok’ as Hathoda Tyagi, the merciless killer who shows no guilt for his innumerable gross killings as he bludgeons people to death with hathoda (hammer). Abhishek admits Hathoda Tyagi is his favourite and most difficult to attempt of all characters on screen. Now, he’s coming back to lighten up our screens with ‘Unpaused’, an anthology of five short Hindi films that were filmed during the lockdown. As ‘Unpaused’ premiered today on Amazon Prime, Abhishek Banerjee got talking to WION about the pandemic year 2020, filming for ‘Unpaused’ amid lockdown and expectations from the new year. Out of the five films, Abhishek Banerjee features in Avinash Arun’s ‘Vishaanu’ that tells the story of a young migrant family’s life as they deal with the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Filming ‘Unpaused’ While The World Took A Pause In 2020 “Unpaused is a story of a migrant labour family that is stuck during lockdown. Somewhat clueless about the whole situation, as danger seeps in slowly, it’s a story of whether they manage to get out of it or not -- how the less fortunate also have a spirit to live. Unpaused is about hope. It’s about celebrating life,” says Abhishek Banerjee on his recently released film. It was special for the ‘Stree’ actor as it was his “first job post lockdown”. “As performers we were performing within the time and space of reality. We were all facing the same situation, everybody was scared about COVID. Initially we would panick about the most trivial things -- using elbow to press the lift button or having to use sanitisers regularly. However, it was easier to understand that fear, live that fear and bring it on screen. Usually actors struggle to understand the time and space of the written world but in case of Unpaused, we didn't need rehearsals or readings. We are living that life,” adds Abhishek. Watch 'Unpaused' trailer here: Looking Back At 2020 Abhishek Banerjee might have been a part of the entertainment industry for a longer period of time but he admits this year has been extra special for him. “Apart from the pandemic, it’s been the best year of my life. Whatever I was seeking and I wasn't seeking anything extra -- just trust from filmmakers, to have an opportunity to perform. I came to Mumbai to perform, to act and finally after all these years, 2020 has been all that. In 2018 I made an actual debut with ‘Stree’, did ‘Bala’, ‘Dream Girl’ but felt a lack of trust from filmmakers all this while,” admits Abhishek. “Now I am surprised with the kind of offers I am getting. There is this whole world of imagination about me, and I’m loving it. I have to be more focused now as there’s added pressure. When you have nothing to lose, it's easier. So yes, this has been the most special year. Though I haven't met my parents this entire year. I met them last December,” he says while mentioning that he’s met them just now and the parents aren't very pleased with the whole situation. Favourite Character “My most favourite character is Hathoda Tyagi. Theres no other way about it,” says Abhishek who went all out playing the merciless killer in hit web show ‘Paatal Lok’. He adds, “Even while performing I knew this is the most difficult part I have attempted in my life. The way the character was written by Sudeep Sharma -- I always feel that writers are creators, they are Brahma. I was very lucky to get this role. The way this character was designed within the screenplay, it was almost like a gift wrapped and served to me.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abhishek Banerjee (@nowitsabhi) × Abhishek was doing whatever he got (and ofcourse liked). “I wanted to do Bittu (Stree) but they wanted me to do Jana. I had no clue I could do jana,” says Abhishek who excelled as Rajkummar Rao’s best friend in the horror comedy that was a critical and box office hit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abhishek Banerjee (@nowitsabhi) × “I have always said that I want to play a villain. Maybe the things I can't do in real life, I like to do those on screen,” on the eclectic choice of roles we have seen him pick over the years, especially negative characters in ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘Paatal Lok’. Call ‘Hathoda Tyagi’ a black character and Abhishek will correct you as he sees it as someone who is grey. He explains, “I have played a character called Dhavle. That I will call a black character. I was playing a child rapist in the film. It’s an Indie film available on Netflix. I was very raw at the time but it was the first time I was offered an important role. This role helped me prepare for Hathoda as I always use my previous experiences. Those are my additional skills sets. I will always have tools for the character if I have done something like that. I wanted to attempt Hathoda as an angry, violent guy. It changed when I understood the human being with its added sociological layers -- who are his oppressors, why does he behave the way he does and when you go back to his history, you feel Hathoda’s pain. You feel sorry for him. It was an emotional journey for me. It was possible because I had done ‘Ajji’. It worked better this way.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abhishek Banerjee (@nowitsabhi) × Abhishek loves his greys. “I think I have a knack of pulling gravitas characters, negative characters. I will be looking forward to playing more such characters for sure. I don’t think I will repeat myself if I do a negative character. If it’s written well, I would definitely take it up,” says the actor on not shying away from doing more such roles. But he has a problem in calling the ‘other’ roles he’s done as those of ‘hero’s best friend’. “I find them fun. They are the heart and soul of the film. There are so many actors who are doing it now. I have said no to many such opportunities before but only because they were not written well. Earlier, they never wrote such roles. They wrote those characters as a shadow of the hero and shadows don’t react while now writers make protagonists and the other characters who also drive the film with the protagonist,” subtly hinting that he also has an issue with the phrase ‘hero’ and wants them to be addressed as protagonist/antagonist.” Read 'Unpaused' review here. Expectations From 2021 “I expect people to be more patient because humans in general have become impatient beings and I hope we make beautiful stories as we need a lot of good stories at this point in time. From an industry point of view, I think we need to craft stories out of our own experiences from the pandemic because we have all had many in 2020. Look at the trailer of ‘AK vs AK’, it looks so different from anything I have seen in the recent,” says Abhishek on what he wants from the new year. Putting on his thinking cap as an actor, he adds, “It’s time to up the game, to bring forth unique concepts. To make films by breaking the grammar of filmmaking. This year has taught us to adapt as an industry, that we can make films with constraints, no foreign locations, less crew, can use your own space intelligently and more.” ‘Unpaused’ premiered on December 18 on Amazon Prime Video. It features five short films directed by Raj and DK, Nitya Mehra, Nikkhil Advani, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Avinash Arun.

Abhishek Banerjee: Apart from the pandemic, it's been the best year of my life

<p>Riding high on the success of the recently released web series 'Paatal Lok', actor Abhishek Banerjee is back on the web space in a new show. This time it’s a bilingual series called 'Kali 2' on ZEE5.<br />
<br />
Banerjee's performance as Hathoda Tyagi in 'Paatal Log' struck a chord with one and all. He played a silent, cold murderer in the series and barely had dialogues. In 'Kaali 2' though, Abhishek says his character Jin Liang is completely opposite of Tyagi.<br />
<br />
"If Tyagi doesn't speak a word, this guy is all talks. So they are different for sure," said Banerjee while speaking to WION.<br />
'Kaali 2' features Paoli Dam in the lead role, with Chandan Roy Sanyal and Banerjee playing key supporting roles.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLJFPcNPqKQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Much like 'Paatal Lok', here in 'Kaali 2', Banerjee plays the antagonist. Wouldn't there be a comparison between the two characters, we ask. "I want them(the viewers) to compare. The audience should compare and tell me if I have been able to pull it off differently or they feel the two look the same. Whatever the audience tells me- I am going to make a note of it. I don't know how the character has come out on screen. I go with the flow. So when people watch it and talk about it- ill get to know. I really would want them to compare," Banerjee said.<br />
<br />
While the actor was okay with the comparison, he admitted it was a challenge to shoot for a bilingual show. The crew shot the series in Bengali and Hindi simultaneously and the actor admitted that itself was challenging. "You have to say the same lines in Bengali and Hindi and then on top of it you also have to match the character, the emotions. When the language changes, even the rhythm changes- everything changes, so how do you maintain that? That was the tricky part."<br />
<br />
The actor admitted that he was nervous speaking the Bengali lines. "It was my first project in Bengali language so of course I was nervous. I have been out of Bengal for a long time so I don't know if I have spoken the lines properly. I am more nervous about how my family would take it.Whether they will it or disown me completely," Banerjee laughed and added.<br />
<br />
The actor has been a casting director for many years and has been instrumental in casting for several popular films like ‘Toilet:Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Secret Superstar’ and web series like ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘TVF Pitchers’. In the ongoing debate about cinema halls vs OTT platforms, Banerjee states that while digital has given a platform to scores of actors and makers to experiment and evolve, the magic of cinema halls will never fade away.<br />
<br />
"You don't go to watch a film just to watch the story or the dance or the music, you go for the cinematic experiences always. You can never take the magic of the cinema hall lightly," the actor said and added that digital has its own space. "Its a great medium. The medium has always been there for people to experiment, to explore, to evolve. We have seen so many brilliant actors all over the world and we have seen them in shows," he said.<br />
<br />
Banerjee is also remembered for his performances in films like 'Stree', 'Bala' and ‘Dream Girl’. Considering he has played the antagonist in two web series back to back- does he feel he'll get stereotyped? "No- because they are very different characters. I think that's what I've been trying to do. I have done roles and characters very different from each other. I don’t have a range man. I have been trying to mix up the characters, I have not stuck to any range so far. I don't have a game plan. My game plan is blank," Banerjee said and is hopeful that this will not make him stick to any particular genre.<br />
<br />
Post 'Kali 2', Banerjee has a mixed bag of drama and comedy. He is part of Umesh Shukla's next with Paresh Rawal and Sharman Joshi, a film with Ayushmann Khurrana and 'Dostana 2. "It's a good mix of comedy and drama so I am happy," he adds.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xn6qTJiR1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">दिवाली 2020 mein hone jaa rahi iss #AankhMicholi mein aap invited hai सपरिवार। #Diwali2020 🥳🥳 @sonypicturesin @mgr_studios @abhimanyud @mrunalofficial2016 @sharmanjoshi @divyadutta25 @nowitsabhi @grushkapoor24 @vivekkrishnani @ashishwagh7 #UmeshShukla #PareshRawal #VijayRaaz #darshanjariwala</a></p>

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<p>Considering he has a long experience as a casting director, does he ever feel his co-actors are miscast in certain roles. "Yes, many a times. Certain takes go wrong, or the dialogue delivery is not right and I feel someone else could have been a better choice for the same role. But that happens to me too. There are days when I don't get my lines right. So it's normal. Criticism is a part of our job," says Banerjee as he signs off.<br />
<br />
‘Kaali 2’ is available for streaming on ZEE5.</p>

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Riding high on the success of the recently released web series 'Paatal Lok', actor Abhishek Banerjee is back on the web space in a new show. This time it’s a bilingual series called 'Kali 2' on ZEE5.

Riding high on the success of the recently released web series 'Paatal Lok', actor Abhishek Banerjee is back on the web space in a new show. This time it’s a bilingual series called 'Kali 2' on ZEE5. Banerjee's performance as Hathoda Tyagi in 'Paatal Log' struck a chord with one and all. He played a silent, cold murderer in the series and barely had dialogues. In 'Kaali 2' though, Abhishek says his character Jin Liang is completely opposite of Tyagi. "If Tyagi doesn't speak a word, this guy is all talks. So they are different for sure," said Banerjee while speaking to WION. 'Kaali 2' features Paoli Dam in the lead role, with Chandan Roy Sanyal and Banerjee playing key supporting roles. Much like 'Paatal Lok', here in 'Kaali 2', Banerjee plays the antagonist. Wouldn't there be a comparison between the two characters, we ask. "I want them(the viewers) to compare. The audience should compare and tell me if I have been able to pull it off differently or they feel the two look the same. Whatever the audience tells me- I am going to make a note of it. I don't know how the character has come out on screen. I go with the flow. So when people watch it and talk about it- ill get to know. I really would want them to compare," Banerjee said. While the actor was okay with the comparison, he admitted it was a challenge to shoot for a bilingual show. The crew shot the series in Bengali and Hindi simultaneously and the actor admitted that itself was challenging. "You have to say the same lines in Bengali and Hindi and then on top of it you also have to match the character, the emotions. When the language changes, even the rhythm changes- everything changes, so how do you maintain that? That was the tricky part." The actor admitted that he was nervous speaking the Bengali lines. "It was my first project in Bengali language so of course I was nervous. I have been out of Bengal for a long time so I don't know if I have spoken the lines properly. I am more nervous about how my family would take it.Whether they will it or disown me completely," Banerjee laughed and added. The actor has been a casting director for many years and has been instrumental in casting for several popular films like ‘Toilet:Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Secret Superstar’ and web series like ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘TVF Pitchers’. In the ongoing debate about cinema halls vs OTT platforms, Banerjee states that while digital has given a platform to scores of actors and makers to experiment and evolve, the magic of cinema halls will never fade away. "You don't go to watch a film just to watch the story or the dance or the music, you go for the cinematic experiences always. You can never take the magic of the cinema hall lightly," the actor said and added that digital has its own space. "Its a great medium. The medium has always been there for people to experiment, to explore, to evolve. We have seen so many brilliant actors all over the world and we have seen them in shows," he said. Banerjee is also remembered for his performances in films like 'Stree', 'Bala' and ‘Dream Girl’. Considering he has played the antagonist in two web series back to back- does he feel he'll get stereotyped? "No- because they are very different characters. I think that's what I've been trying to do. I have done roles and characters very different from each other. I don’t have a range man. I have been trying to mix up the characters, I have not stuck to any range so far. I don't have a game plan. My game plan is blank," Banerjee said and is hopeful that this will not make him stick to any particular genre. Post 'Kali 2', Banerjee has a mixed bag of drama and comedy. He is part of Umesh Shukla's next with Paresh Rawal and Sharman Joshi, a film with Ayushmann Khurrana and 'Dostana 2. "It's a good mix of comedy and drama so I am happy," he adds. View this post on Instagram दिवाली 2020 mein hone jaa rahi iss #AankhMicholi mein aap invited hai सपरिवार। #Diwali2020 🥳🥳 @sonypicturesin @mgr_studios @abhimanyud @mrunalofficial2016 @sharmanjoshi @divyadutta25 @nowitsabhi @grushkapoor24 @vivekkrishnani @ashishwagh7 #UmeshShukla #PareshRawal #VijayRaaz #darshanjariwala A post shared by abhishek Banerjee (@nowitsabhi) on Feb 19, 2020 at 8:31pm PST × Considering he has a long experience as a casting director, does he ever feel his co-actors are miscast in certain roles. "Yes, many a times. Certain takes go wrong, or the dialogue delivery is not right and I feel someone else could have been a better choice for the same role. But that happens to me too. There are days when I don't get my lines right. So it's normal. Criticism is a part of our job," says Banerjee as he signs off. ‘Kaali 2’ is available for streaming on ZEE5.

Abhishek Banerjee on his roles in 'Paatal Lok' and 'Kaali 2': I would want people to compare the two characters

<p>While he certainly may have sent shivers down your spine as Vishal Tyagi aka Hathoda Tyagi in the recently released Amazon Prime Original 'Paatal Lok', don’t let Abhishek Banerjee’s intense look in the crime thriller fool you. On the contrary, the talented actor is known for leaving the audience in splits with commendable performances in 'Stree', 'Dream Girl', 'Bala' to name a few.<br />
<br />
Playing the role of the lead antagonist to perfection, Hathoda Tyagi, as one of the most dreadful villains seen in recent times, has become a character that’s certainly put Abhishek in the big league.<br />
<br />
Speaking about the process of playing the ruthless hammer-wielding gangster Hathoda Tyagi, Abhishek talks about getting into the skin of the character and how it took a toll on him. He said, “I broke down one day while driving with my wife and kept saying that it's not me. That is when I understood Tyagi. He is a man who’s far beyond anger and revenge. He wants to cleanse the world for others so that there are no more Tyagis."<br />
<br />
Watching this crime thriller makes one understand why Tyagi is what he is. Such is his riveting backstory that it makes you want to root for the bad guy.<br />
<br />
Abhishek started as a casting director and owns Cating Bay, the company that is instrumental in casting of many popular web series and films. Always enthusiastic to act, Abhishek made heads turn in a brief role in TVF's 'Pitchers'. But his performance as Vishal Tyagi is being considered as the breakthrough performance of his career.<br />
<br />
Produced by Anushka Sharma’s Clean Slate Flimz, 'Paatal Lok' revolves around four gangsters attempting to assassinate media tycoon Sanjeev Mehra played by Neeraj Kabi.</p>

<p>With the case falling into the hands of a Delhi cop Hathiram Chaudhary, portrayed by Jaideep Ahlawat, he begins his mission to bringing the guilty to justice.<br />
<br />
What also makes 'Paatal Lok' stand out is the ensemble cast that delivers a power-packed performance to remember- the casting of which has been done by Abhishek's cating agency. The show also features Jagjt Sandhu, Ishwak Singh, Gul Panag, Aasif Khan, Swastika Mukherjee, Niharika Lyra Dutt, Mairembam Ronaldo Singh and Vipin Sharma.</p>


While he certainly may have sent shivers down your spine as Vishal Tyagi aka Hathoda Tyagi in the recently released Amazon Prime Original 'Paatal Lok', don’t let Abhishek Banerjee’s intense look in the crime thriller fool you.

While he certainly may have sent shivers down your spine as Vishal Tyagi aka Hathoda Tyagi in the recently released Amazon Prime Original 'Paatal Lok', don’t let Abhishek Banerjee’s intense look in the crime thriller fool you. On the contrary, the talented actor is known for leaving the audience in splits with commendable performances in 'Stree', 'Dream Girl', 'Bala' to name a few. Playing the role of the lead antagonist to perfection, Hathoda Tyagi, as one of the most dreadful villains seen in recent times, has become a character that’s certainly put Abhishek in the big league. Speaking about the process of playing the ruthless hammer-wielding gangster Hathoda Tyagi, Abhishek talks about getting into the skin of the character and how it took a toll on him. He said, “I broke down one day while driving with my wife and kept saying that it's not me. That is when I understood Tyagi. He is a man who’s far beyond anger and revenge. He wants to cleanse the world for others so that there are no more Tyagis." Watching this crime thriller makes one understand why Tyagi is what he is. Such is his riveting backstory that it makes you want to root for the bad guy. Abhishek started as a casting director and owns Cating Bay, the company that is instrumental in casting of many popular web series and films. Always enthusiastic to act, Abhishek made heads turn in a brief role in TVF's 'Pitchers'. But his performance as Vishal Tyagi is being considered as the breakthrough performance of his career. Produced by Anushka Sharma’s Clean Slate Flimz, 'Paatal Lok' revolves around four gangsters attempting to assassinate media tycoon Sanjeev Mehra played by Neeraj Kabi. With the case falling into the hands of a Delhi cop Hathiram Chaudhary, portrayed by Jaideep Ahlawat, he begins his mission to bringing the guilty to justice. What also makes 'Paatal Lok' stand out is the ensemble cast that delivers a power-packed performance to remember- the casting of which has been done by Abhishek's cating agency. The show also features Jagjt Sandhu, Ishwak Singh, Gul Panag, Aasif Khan, Swastika Mukherjee, Niharika Lyra Dutt, Mairembam Ronaldo Singh and Vipin Sharma.

Abhishek Banerjee on his character Hathoda Tyagi: He wants to cleanse the world for others

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