Abhishek Banerjee, Shwetaabh Singh launch banner named Freaks

Actor Abhishek Banerjee and producer Shwetaabh Singh have joined forces to launch a banner named Freaks

While Banerjee has made his mark with several acclaimed projects including Amazon Prime's Paatal Lok (2020), Unpaused (2020) and Mirzapur (Season 2, 2020) as well as Netflix's Ajeeb Daastaans (2021) and, more recently, Rashmi Rocket (2021). Shwetaabh Singh is a Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) graduate, whose last production, Prateek Vats' Eeb Allay Ooo! (2020), was selected for the 70th Berlin International Film Festival and won the Filmfare Best Film (Critics) Award. 

Singh said, "Abhishek is someone I have always looked up to since college. We relate with each other as we belong to the same school of sensibility. I have always wanted to back new talent, stories and innovative ideas. Abhishek through his work has always done that whether as an actor or as a casting director. The path that he has carved on his own is something that gives me a lot of confidence. This isn’t a start for us, rather it’s a continuation of our journey that started way back in college."

Banerjee said Singh and he will make films that are powerful yet relatable. "Unique not just in terms of the idea but something that also stands out in treatment and execution. I am excited to collaborate with him because from college theatre to making cinema together is a journey where we have grown so much parallelly and together. Shwetaabh is an FTII graduate and his ideas shine through his work. Our vision aligns perfectly," he said.

Freaks seeks to give a platform to young talent from all corners of the nation. The production will bring new writers, filmmakers and camerapersons on board to create unconventional, unique and out-of-box films.

Among them is a short film starring Banerjee himself. The actor said, "We have finished a short together, which we will announce soon. We are really excited as this is going to be one of the most unique and expensive shorts ever made in India.”

Banerjee will next be seen in his maiden Telugu film Highway (2022) alongside Saiyami Kher and Anand Deverakonda, as well as several projects, including the Varun Dhawan-led Bhediya (2022).