On the occasion of World Theatre Day, actor Abhishek Banerjee takes a moment to look back on where it all began for him — the theatre stage. While he’s a popular face in Hindi cinema today, Abhishek believes that his real training as an actor started with theatre.
“Theatre is More Than Acting”
For Abhishek, theatre isn’t just about performing. He sees it as a powerful way to grow as a person. “Theatre holds all the importance in my career,” he shares. “It’s not only about acting, it’s like a personality development course.”
He explains that acting in films often focuses on cameras and solo performance, but theatre is different. It teaches teamwork, discipline, and helps you understand yourself better. “The fun of being an actor comes when you perform with others and realize you’re not alone in this journey,” he says.
Starting His Journey in College
Abhishek began his theatre journey at Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. The college is known for its strong theatre society, which has given Bollywood some amazing actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Divyenndu, and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub.
He proudly says, “I truly believe our college theatre group has contributed a lot to Indian cinema over the past 20 years.” The confidence he gained during his college days has helped him in his film career, especially while working with green screens — a common technique in today’s films.
Why Theatre is Still Important
In today’s digital world, where acting often includes special effects and green screens, Abhishek feels that theatre becomes even more important. “Theatre teaches you how to imagine,” he explains. “When you’re acting in front of a green screen, you need that skill.”
He adds that theatre is a must for young actors who are just starting out. Many newcomers are often told they are not prepared enough. Abhishek believes theatre can solve this problem. “You have to spend a few years on stage. That’s the bare minimum,” he says.
More Than Just a Stepping Stone
According to Abhishek, the idea that theatre is not needed to become a star is completely wrong. “Some people think they can skip theatre and become stars. But that’s not how it works,” he says firmly.
He points out that some of the biggest stars, like Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, started their journeys on the stage. “Theatre is like oxygen for an actor. If you’ve never done theatre, it’s like you’ve never taken a breath as an actor,” he says.
