Abhishek Banerjee recently reflected on his long-standing on-screen equation with Rajkummar Rao, saying their collaborations are shaped by a strong sense of actor-to-actor trust that allows room for spontaneity during performances.

Abhishek Banerjee says his chemistry with Rajkummar Rao is built on “actor-to-actor trust”

Banerjee, who made a special appearance in Toaster, recalled how their comfort as performers removes hesitation around improvisation. “Trust is something you just know,” he said, adding that actors sometimes feel unsure when co-stars change lines or moments during a scene.

“It has happened to me,” he noted, before explaining how his experience with Rao has been different. “With Raj, there’s no fear of improvising, because you know that if he improvises something, I’ll react, and if I improvise something, he’ll react.”

Calling this dynamic a fundamental part of acting practice, Banerjee described it as a shared professional understanding. “It’s a very basic trust exercise that’s taught in acting classes around the world. It’s both a skill and part of basic training,” he said.

He also emphasised that their comfort level comes from being secure performers individually. “I think he has done a lot more than just the basics, and I’ve also had some training. So that actor-to-actor trust is there between us. Even if we weren’t friends or weren’t this close, I think we would still have had the same level of chemistry on screen, because both of us are quite secure.”

Banerjee’s appearance in Toaster, which marks Rao’s debut as a producer, also brought back memories of their popular pairing as Jana and Vicky in Stree, a collaboration that continues to resonate with audiences.

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