Mumbai: Actor Abhishek Banerjee has opened up about the philosophy behind his upcoming film Side Heroes, revealing that the title carries a deeper message about storytelling and the evolving roles of actors in contemporary cinema. Banerjee also shared a memorable piece of advice he received from filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who has mentored and produced the project.
Speaking about his interaction with Ali, Banerjee recalled that the filmmaker encouraged him to avoid chasing the conventional image of a leading man.
According to the actor, Ali told him, “Don’t try to become a hero.” Banerjee said he appreciated the irony behind the advice, explaining that the film is built around the idea that none of its characters fit the traditional definition of a hero. Instead, every character contributes equally to the narrative.
Side Heroes stars Abhishek Banerjee alongside Aparshakti Khurana and Varun Sharma. The film is produced under the mentorship of Imtiaz Ali.
Banerjee also spoke about the commonly used phrase “side actor,” arguing that it no longer reflects the realities of modern filmmaking. He suggested that such labels diminish the importance of supporting performers, noting that every character has a meaningful role to play in shaping a story.
The actor added that audiences may arrive with certain expectations based on the film’s title but are likely to discover a different kind of cinematic experience.
Discussing the broader film industry, Banerjee encouraged aspiring performers to remain true to their training and artistic strengths instead of attempting to imitate established commercial stars. He said actors who have invested years in developing their craft should embrace their individuality rather than pursue familiar formulas.
Known for his performances in content-driven films and web series, Banerjee has built a reputation for portraying layered and unconventional characters. His comments reflect his belief that authenticity and strong characterisation are more valuable than fitting into traditional hero archetypes.
Beyond Side Heroes, Banerjee has a busy slate of upcoming projects, including Mirzapur: The Film, Lust Stories 3, where he will star opposite Konkona Sen Sharma in Vikramaditya Motwane’s segment, and his Tamil debut in Legacy alongside R. Madhavan, which is slated to stream on Netflix.
