Actor Abhishek Banerjee recently wrapped up shooting for his film Maha Sangam, which was filmed in the heart of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. In an exclusive interview, he shared what it was like to shoot a film in the midst of millions of people at one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
A Rare and Blessed Experience
Shooting in the middle of such large crowds was a unique and rare experience for Abhishek Banerjee and the entire crew. Reflecting on the experience, the actor described it as “a blessed experience.” He pointed out that as actors, they are used to working in quiet and controlled environments, but this time, the situation was vastly different.
“It was a rare experience for the entire crew, as no one had done anything like this before. As actors, we are used to silence and isolation on the set,” Abhishek said. He humorously added, “Par yahan hum log shor ke saath acting kar rahe the. I feel there was a divine intervention. We did the shoot without any VIP culture — ek aam aadmi ki tarah.” (Here, we were acting with noise all around us, and it felt like a divine intervention. We shot like ordinary people, with no VIP culture.)
Planning vs. Reality
Filming in a location as chaotic as the Maha Kumbh Mela presented its own set of challenges. Abhishek explained that while the crew had done a lot of planning before arriving, it didn’t go as expected once the shoot began. Despite having a storyboard in place, the vast crowd meant that nothing could go according to plan.
“We had done all the planning and had a storyboard, too. But as we started, everything went for a toss. Any planning in such a crowd is just impossible. Every day, we used to have some adventure,” Abhishek said, reflecting on the unpredictability of the shoot.
The actor added that he had to throw away all his preconceived notions and focus on the moment. “I stopped thinking beyond the scenes. Throughout scenes, shots, frames, locations, and portrayal, we were improvising. It turned out to be a kind of docu-fictional film, as we documented all that was around us and fictionalized it.”
Filming in the Middle of Crowds
Filming in the middle of such a large crowd was not an easy task, but Abhishek shared that the people present during the Mela were understanding of the film crew’s work. With crores of people attending the event to take a holy dip in the river, there were moments when the filming was interrupted by curious onlookers.
“The shoot does generally get disturbed when there are so many people around. Some may walk in to shake hands, and others may try to disturb the cameraman. But, fortunately, the people there were understanding. They were all on a mission to take a holy dip. Isiliye manage ho gaya,” Abhishek said with a smile.
The film crew shot for about eight days at the Kumbh Mela. Before this, they had filmed in Varanasi for a few days. Despite the crowds, the shoot was still manageable around the time of Magh Purnima, a significant day at the Mela.
The Significance of the Mela in the Film
Abhishek went on to explain the deeper meaning behind the Maha Kumbh Mela, not just as a religious gathering, but also in relation to the film Maha Sangam. According to him, the Kumbh Mela represents family, relationships, and self-discovery, themes that are also explored in the film.
“Kumbh ki kahani hai about family and relationship. This mega festival gives learning to every devotee. The characters in the film, too, get a kind of learning,” Abhishek explained.
He also talked about the title of the film, which was initially Khoj but was later changed to Maha Sangam. He explained that the film tells the story of self-exploration and self-discovery. “I guess, for the first time, people in India and abroad will watch a film on Kumbh. The film was earlier titled Khoj, which suggests that kabhi kabhi insaan bhi apne aap ko kho deta hain. So, this is a khone aur paane ki kahani.” (Sometimes, a person loses themselves, and this is a story of losing and finding oneself.)
Abhishek also praised the director of the film, Bharat Bala, calling him a “legendary filmmaker” who brought a unique vision to the project.
Personal Impact of the Mela Experience
Filming at the Kumbh Mela left a deep impact on Abhishek, both personally and professionally. He shared that the experience allowed him to reconnect with his country in a way he hadn’t in years. He said, “Bahut saalon ke baad apne desh se rubaru hua hoon. I saw people from all over India and abroad in one place. These 7-8 days will remain in my heart for a long time.” (After many years, I felt connected to my country again. I saw people from all over India and abroad in one place. These 7-8 days will remain in my heart for a long time.)
Abhishek Banerjee’s Upcoming Projects
Abhishek Banerjee is currently busy with several exciting projects. He will be seen in the second season of the popular OTT series Rana Naidu. Additionally, he has a guest appearance in the Rajkummar Rao-starrer Toaster and will star alongside Jaideep Ahlawat and Shefali Shah in Hisaab directed by Vipul Shah.
Abhishek also loves exploring diversity in his roles. “I love diversity in my roles. So, be it playing a character from Rajasthan in Veda, Jana from Madhya Pradesh in Stree 2, or a Varanasi-lad in this project, it helps me avoid playing similar characters,” he added.
As Abhishek continues to explore new roles and genres, his experience shooting at the Maha Kumbh Mela will surely remain a highlight of his career.
