Indeed, OTT audiences are in for a double treat as Abhishek Banerjee is making his Hindi film debut with the widely commended crime thriller Stolen, directed by Karan Tejpal. It’s scheduled to be released in theatres beginning January 7, 2024, and not a second too soon, as moviegoers are transported into this uplifting tale’s universe. Stolen, based on a true story, follows two city boys who witness the baby daughter of an abducted woman being taken from her house at a rural Indian train station.

One child missing, two strangers drawn into darkness

Inspired by an unshakable sense of moral duty, they go on a perilous mission to rescue the expectant mother, confronting widespread social prejudices and their own preconceived notions along the way. With a strong lead actress and magnificent cinematography, the film should continue making splashes internationally, recently premiering at the 80th Venice International Film Festival to a five-minute standing ovation. It was chosen to screen at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and the Kerala.org International Film Festival of Kerala, where it played to unbelievable, most favourable reviews for its appalling narrative and hard-hitting performances.

A real-world crime story with emotional intensity

Produced by Gaurav Dhingra under Jungle Book Studio, Stolen has a huge cast, including Shubham, Mia Maelzer, and Harish Khanna. Abhishek Banerjee as Gautam Bansal will likely turn out to be the career-defining performance of this chapter of his acting odyssey. Stolen will be an unparalleled filmgoing event that upends our understanding of passion and compassion amid a society of hardened social structures.