Abhishek Bachchan remembers getting locked in projector room with Kareena Kapoor during 'Refugee' premiere ; Prayed at every temple

Time of India

19 hours ago

Twenty-five years since his cinematic debut,
Abhishek Bachchan
took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reflecting on the release of 'Refugee', the film that launched both him and
Kareena Kapoor
into Bollywood. Sharing heartfelt and amusing anecdotes from that time, Abhishek revealed that he and Kareena were once locked inside a projector room at Gaiety Galaxy because fans discovered they were in the theatre.
Rain, Blessings, and First-Night Jitters
Speaking to SCREEN, Abhishek remembered how the premiere night of Refugee felt surreal. 'It rained on the day of the premiere, and everyone panicked. But I saw it as a blessing,' he said, recalling the anxiety of watching his film with industry veterans at Liberty Cinema. He had been filming Shararat in Manali and reached Mumbai just a day before the premiere. 'I stopped at every temple on the way for blessings,' he shared with a smile.
Meeting filmmakers like
Yash Chopra
on the red carpet and feeling the warmth of his extended industry 'family' helped ease his nerves. After the premiere, a celebratory dinner stretched into the early hours. 'I sat at Marine Drive at dawn with Sikandar (Kher) just soaking it all in,' Abhishek recounted.
Projector Room Hideout With Bebo
Abhishek's favorite memory, however, came two days after the premiere when bad weather cancelled his flight back to Manali.
'I got excited and called up Bebo (Kareena),' he said. 'We decided to visit theatres showing the film.' Their visit to Gaiety and Chandan Cinema stirred unexpected fan frenzy. 'We had to be locked inside the projector room because people realised we were there,' he said and added that he still get goosebumps when he thinks about the incident.
Reflections After 25 Years
Reflecting on his growth as an actor, Abhishek said, 'I think my features have remained the same, but I hope I've evolved as an artist.' He emphasized the need for actors to adapt with changing audience tastes, adding, 'Improvement is a journey. I've tried to do it with each passing year.'
'Refugee' may have had a modest box office run, but for Abhishek, it marked the unforgettable beginning of a lifelong passion.
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