In ‘Freedom at Midnight 2’, Abhishek Banerjee’s poignant cameo is much more than a fleeting moment; it’s a heartfelt salute to the late Om Puri’s unparalleled artistry. By channeling the turmoil of a grief-laden rioter with both depth and restraint, Banerjee emphasizes the profound human toll of conflict, honoring Puri’s legacy through a performance that resonates with quiet reverence.

Abhishek Banerjee has revealed that his brief but striking appearance in the second season of ‘Freedom at Midnight’ was driven by personal reverence towards Om Puri rather than screen time. The actor appears in a cameo as a rioter consumed by grief and rage after losing his pregnant wife to communal violence. The role culminates in a surrender before Mahatma Gandhi, a moment that immediately evokes memories of Om Puri’s iconic performance in Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’. For Banerjee, the connection was intentional and deeply meaningful.

A cameo shaped by legacy

Speaking to mid-day, Banerjee said the role was never about its length. “Playing this cameo in Freedom at Midnight 2 was never about the size of the role for me. It was about what it stood for. Om Puri saab is someone I have admired immensely for his craft, fearlessness, and the dignity he brought to every character. Stepping into a space that echoes a role he once played felt like a quiet tribute to his legacy,” he shared.The actor acknowledged that Om Puri’s stature remains unmatched. “Admitting that he has a long journey before he can match Puri’s craft,” Banerjee added, “This remains my heartfelt tribute to him.” His words show the respect with which he approached a character strongly etched in public memory.

Approaching the role with restraint

Banerjee appears in the third episode of ‘Freedom at Midnight 2’, directed and showrun by Nikkhil Advani. He shot the sequence with co-star Chirag Vohra in August 2024. Even when Advani first discussed the role with him, Banerjee was aware of the responsibility attached to it. The association with Om Puri’s performance was impossible to ignore.Still, he did not allow the weight of that legacy to become pressure on set. “There can never be a replacement for Om Puri saab, and I’d never see it that way,” Banerjee said. “For me, it was about approaching the role with sincerity and restraint, qualities he embodied so effortlessly. Even though it’s a cameo, there is an emotional weight attached to it, and I wanted to honour that with honesty.”The episode drops Banerjee’s character into the Calcutta riots and uses his brief storyline to underscore the human toll of violence and the possibility of remorse. ‘Freedom at Midnight 2’ is currently streaming on SonyLIV, and Season 2 comprises 7 episodes, listed as Episodes 1-7. Taken together, Seasons 1 and 2 bring the series total to 14 episodes.