Refugee Turns 25: Abhishek Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Reflect On Their Debut Film
Updated on: 30 June, 2025 05:31 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan complete 25 years in Bollywood
June 30, 2000 – a date that changed the face of the Hindi film industry as it welcomed two fresh faces – Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan. Two actors who carried the legacy of iconic families made their debut with J.P. Dutta`s Refugee.
Today marks 25 years of Refugee and over two decades of Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan`s glorious Bollywood career. It cemented the two actors as the rising stars.
Fast forward to 2025, and both star kids take a look back at their journey and reminisce about how it all started. While one recalls having had sleepless nights a day before the film`s release, the other promises to entertain fans forever.
Abhishek Bachchan travels back to 2000
The actor recalled when the film was released on June 30, 2000, and shared how he was preoccupied with shooting for another project.
“In those days, promotions weren’t as extensive, although I must admit Bebo (Kareena) and I were the first ones to start the city tour. We also had an audio launch earlier, after which I went for the outdoor shoot," Bachchan recalled.
Also Read: Did You Know This Was the Reason Behind Abhishek Bachchan-Karisma Kapoor Breakup
He shared how director J.P. Dutta arranged a special screening for family members and said, “I couldn’t sleep that night. It rained on the day of the premiere. Everybody panicked because the premiere was at Liberty Cinema (in South Mumbai), but I said it was auspicious because rain on a big day like this is considered God’s blessing."
“When I reached, it was so wonderful because the entire film industry had shown up. That relaxed me because being someone who’s born in the film industry, they’re all your extended family,” he continued.
The Dhoom actor also recalled going to theatres with his co-star, Kareena, to see the audience`s reactions. Calling it an exciting experience, he revealed, “We had to be locked in the projector room because the audience got to know we were there.”
Kareena Kapoor`s tribute to 25 years
The Jab We Met actress completed a glorious two and a half decades in the film industry. She has appeared in over 60 movies spanning over 25 years.
View this post on Instagram
To celebrate the milestone, Kareena took to her Instagram handle and shared some throwback pictures of herself and Abhishek from the shoot of Refugee. Her caption read, “25 years and forever to go…”
While the film was a major disaster at the box office, both Kareena Kapoor`s and Abhishek Bachchan`s performances were highly praised. Over time, the two went on to become every director`s first choice.
From nervous screen tests to superstardom, their journey has been nothing short of iconic.
ADVERTISEMENT
Do you think human-wildlife interactions are dangerous?
ADVERTISEMENT
