His love for cinema has seen him dabbling in different roles, from an aspiring actor to a successful casting director, to a raw and honest artiste. Now, Abhishek Banerjee — who burst on the scene with his haunting portrayal of Hathoda Tyagi in Paatal Lok (2020) — is ready for the next step. The actor has launched his production house, Freaks, with producer-friend Shwetaabh Singh. His idea behind floating the studio? To give a platform to new writers and filmmakers, whose voices have yet to reach the audience.

“With Freaks, Shwetaabh and I plan to make cinema that is powerful yet relatable. [Our movies] will be unique not only in terms of their ideas, but also with regard to treatment and execution,” says Banerjee. Joining forces with his college friend was a no-brainer. “From college theatre to making cinema together, this journey [has seen] us grow together. Shwetaabh is an FTII [Film and Television Institute of India]  graduate, and his ideas shine through his work. Our visions align perfectly.”