
When Abhishek, Kareena were locked in projector room during Refugee premiere
The 'Big Bull' actor recalled how the entire industry turned up to support him. 'We drove in about three-four cars because there were so many of my family and close friends. I drove to Liberty with my chachaji (Ajitabh Bachchan) and friend Sikandar (Kher, actor)... The first person I met was Mr. Yash Chopra, who gave me a big hug and great advice," he added.
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What followed was a memorable post-premiere night. 'After the premiere, there was a dinner and party. That became a long night. I drove back home with Sikandar at seven in the morning. We stopped by at Marine Drive and sat there just to take in the moment that the film was going to release," he said.Due to bad weather, Abhishek's flight back to Manali got cancelled, giving him two extra days in Mumbai. That's when an unforgettable fan encounter happened. 'I got excited and called up Bebo. She said, 'Let's go to the theatres.' So we went to Gaiety Galaxy and Chandan Cinema, which unfortunately is not there anymore. It was terribly exciting! We had to be locked in the projector room because the audience got to know we were there. I still get gooseflesh talking about it.'Reflecting on his journey since, he added, 'I think my features have remained constant. I'd like to believe everything else has changed... That's been my quest, to a certain extent. I hope I've managed to evolve as an artiste. The audience, the tastes, and the movies also change, so should the actor.''Refugee', directed by JP Dutta and inspired by Keki N Daruwalla's short story 'Love Across the Salt Desert', explored the lives of illegal migrants crossing the India-Pakistan border through the Rann of Kutch. Though it received mixed reviews, the film was declared a semi-hit and was the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2000.- EndsMust Watch
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