Abhishek Banerjee is celebrating after his film Stolen received two nominations at the upcoming Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) 2025. The film is nominated for Best Feature Film (Fiction), and Karan Tejpal, the director, is nominated for Best Director.
Banerjee expressed his excitement, stating, "I feel Stolen was made for a universal audience". He also acknowledged the "guts" of Gaurav Dhingra, the producer, and Karan Tejpal, for representing India at the event. Stolen, which debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 2023 and received a standing ovation, is set to release on Prime Video in June 2025.
The film tells the story of two brothers who become involved in the search for a kidnapped child in rural India. According to Banerjee, the nominations validate the risks taken in backing an uncompromising story. He emphasized that Stolen isn't a "big-budget spectacle or a formulaic drama," but that the power of the story was the driving force behind their decision to make the film. He also credited Tejpal for bringing sensitivity to the subject matter and treating it with honesty and humanity.
According to Karan Tejpal, Stolen is a raw and honest story about two starkly different worlds colliding in unexpected ways. He also stated that having the support of visionary filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Kiran Rao, Nikkhil Advani, and Vikramaditya Motwane strengthened his creative conviction. Mia Maelzer, who also stars in the film, said that being part of Stolen has been a profound journey for him as an actor.
Stolen is produced by Gaurav Dhingra and executive produced by Anurag Kashyap, Kiran Rao, Nikkhil Advani, and Vikramaditya Motwane. Manish Menghani, director and head of content licensing at Prime Video India, said that Stolen exemplifies Prime Video's commitment to championing bold, meaningful storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences. He added that the film holds a mirror to society, delving into powerful themes of justice, trauma, and human resilience.
Banerjee had previously revealed that he almost exited the film due to creative disagreements with the producer regarding character depth and narrative. However, they were able to find common ground through open dialogue and mutual respect, which allowed Banerjee to fully commit to the project.
