By Grace Cyril,News18

Copyright news18

Abhishek Banerjee, best known to many as Jana from the Stree franchise, is stepping back into the world of theatre after nearly twenty years. The actor will headline a satirical one-man performance titled Tu Kya Hai, set to premiere this month at Mumbai’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).
Before his rise in Bollywood, Banerjee began his artistic journey on stage in Delhi. For his latest project, he reunites with his early theatre colleagues to present a mono satirical comedy that revisits the raw energy of live performance.
Reflecting on his return, the actor said in a media statement, “Theatre is where I learnt to breathe as an artist. It taught me rhythm, truth, and how to fail without fear. For the last 20 years, my journey has been about chasing roles, telling stories, and building a career in cinema but somewhere, the stage kept calling me back.”
Tu Kya Hai is a satirical play about dreamers who leave home to chase a life in the arts. It shows their struggles, absurd moments, and resilience, mixing comedy with deeper emotions. The play unfolds in three parts starting with a middle-class home where art is seen only as a hobby, the hustle and chaos of Mumbai’s entertainment world, and the quiet self-doubt that surfaces in silence.
Banerjee describes the play as an intimate exploration of his own artistic journey. “Tu Kya Hai is deeply personal because it holds up a mirror to my life and, in many ways, to anyone who has ever questioned themselves,” he shared.
The actor added, “It’s about that late-night whisper we all hear ‘Tu kya hai?’ when the lights are off, and the applause has faded. Coming back to the theatre to perform with my old theatre friends feels like closing a circle, or maybe starting a new one. This isn’t just a play for me it’s a homecoming.”
Abhishek Banerjee (born 1985) is an Indian actor and casting director. He gained wide recognition for his performances in the Maddock Supernatural Universe films Stree, Bhediya, and Stree 2, as well as for his portrayal of Hathoda Tyagi in the Amazon Prime Video series Paatal Lok. His film credits also include Dream Girl, Dream Girl 2, Rashmi Rocket, Vedaa, and Stolen.