Abhishek Banerjee, currently basking in the success of Stree 2, has opened up about the stringent measures he’s put in place at his casting agency, Casting Bay, to create a safe working environment for women. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Banerjee, who has been a casting director for 15 years, revealed that he has established strict protocols within his agency, including banning meetings outside office premises and enforcing a time limit on messaging female actors.
Banerjee shared that one of the first rules implemented was to prohibit meetings outside of the office, which he believes is a necessary step to maintain professionalism. “The problem was the deep-seated culture of coffee shop meetings in Bombay. We wanted to say, ‘No, that’s not professional. We are not going to work in a coffee shop. You are meeting for work, not for food or coffee,'” he stated, emphasizing that all professional interactions should take place within the office.
Additionally, Banerjee has imposed a strict rule regarding the timing of messages sent to female actors. Employees at Casting Bay are not permitted to message actresses after a certain hour, and any breach of this rule has led to immediate consequences, including termination. Banerjee admitted that several employees have been fired for violating this protocol. “We created a system where women would feel safe,” he said.
Banerjee, who portrays the character Jana in Stree 2, is not just making headlines for his acting but also for his dedication to fostering a safe and professional environment in the entertainment industry. Stree 2, directed by Amar Kaushik, stars Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, and Aparshakti Khurana. The film, a sequel to the 2018 hit Stree, is part of Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy universe, which also includes Roohi, Bhediya, and Munjya.
Sources By Agencies
