May 15, 2026 6:24pm IST
Abhishek Banerjee is Glad Franchise Films Are Happening: ‘They Are My Fixed Deposit, Please Bring Them On’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The Indian film industry, particularly Bollywood, is brimming with franchises. From horror-comedy universes to spy-verses, the sandbox is cluttered with sequels, spiritual reboots and every fancy term one might want to use. But as critics ponder over this phenomenon, actor Abhishek Banerjee is all for it. And his mostly "financial reasons" make a lot of sense.
Banerjee has been part of two major film and streaming franchises. He is the loveable Janaa in Maddock’s supernatural universe that began with “Stree” and now includes titles like “Bhediya”, “Munjya” and “Thamma”. He is also "Compounder" in Prime Video’s “Mirzapur”, and returns for “Mirzapur: The Movie” when it hits theaters this September.
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When asked whether he finds franchise films repetitive and playing the same character over and over again limiting, Banerjee cuts right in. “I come from the middle class. I am very happy that these franchise films are happening, okay? They are my FDs (fixed deposits), so I have no problems. Please cast me in as many franchises as you can. Keep giving me money, and I'll try to do my best. I have no problems with it. Please bring it on; 3, 4, 5, I don't care!”
The actor, who began his career as a casting director and co-owns a casting agency, is extremely clear on what fame and success look like for him. While he balances his filmography with commercial hits like the box office juggernaut “Stree 2” and indie films like the critically acclaimed “Stolen”, he wants recognition from the masses.
“Right now, I was walking in, and the security guy looked at me and went, ‘Mirzapur, Compounder?’ So he remembers me like that. And I think that's the kind of attachment, that's the kind of relationship I want to develop with my audience. It's a long way to go, but this is the beginning of it. And I want them to know me for my acting and not for what I am outside of acting.”
Abhishek Banerjee has quite a few upcoming releases lined up, chief amongst them being his Tamil debut in “Legacy” alongside R. Madhavan and a short in the “Lust Stories 3” anthology opposite Konkona Sen Sharma.
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