Kareena Kapoor celebrates 24 years of Refugee, says, '24 years of discovery, the best is yet to come'

Released 24 years ago, Refugee marked the entry of Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan into the world of cinema.

Celebrating the 24th anniversary of the film Refugee actress Kareena Kapoor took to Instagram to share her reflections. In a heartfelt post, she expressed gratitude for the journey of discovering herself and her characters over the past 24 years. Kareena's message, "24 years of discovering myself and my characters... The best is yet to come," resonated with her fans, who continue to support her illustrious career.

The director JP Dutta also reminisced about the unique experience of creating this significant film. In an interview with Zoom, Dutta revealed some intriguing behind-the-scenes details that highlight the unconventional process of making the debut film of Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan.

Also read: Meghna Gulzar’s next Daayra to star Ayushmann Khurrana and Kareena Kapoor!

Released 24 years ago, Refugee marked the entry of Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan into the world of cinema. Surprisingly, as JP Dutta disclosed, the film did not have a pre-written script. Instead, the characters were developed on location, allowing the actors to shape their destinies and bring their own interpretations to the roles they played. This spontaneous and flexible approach to filmmaking is rare in the industry, emphasizing the creative freedom that Dutta afforded his debut actors.

Abhishek Bachchan's journey into films was initially envisioned through a different project. His debut was meant to be in Aakhri Mughal a film chronicling the life of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar and his troubled relationship with his son. Directed by JP Dutta, this project would have seen the legendary actor Dilip Kumar playing Bahadur Shah Zafar, with Abhishek cast as his son. However, fate intervened, and "Aakhri Mughal" was shelved, leading to the birth of Refugee.

Despite the shift in plans, Refugee became a milestone in Bollywood. JP Dutta fondly recalled the promise he made to his friend Randhir Kapoor to give his daughter Kareena a memorable launch in the film industry. True to his word, Kareena Kapoor's debut was a resounding success, showcasing her ethereal beauty and acting prowess. She won all the debutante awards of 2001, a testament to her outstanding performance in the film.

Also read: Kareena Kapoor Khan brings sexy back with pearl details on her designer sari

Interestingly, during the filming of Refugee Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor's sister, Karisma Kapoor, were engaged to be married. However, by the time the film was completed, their engagement was called off, which led to the scrapping of other projects planned with the Abhishek-Kareena pairing. Despite this, JP Dutta shared that both Abhishek and Kareena remained like his own children, and he took great pride in watching them grow into accomplished actors.

Abhishek Bachchan's debut in "Refugee" did not immediately translate to award success, as he lost several debut awards to Hrithik Roshan for "Kaho Na...Pyar Hai." Nonetheless, JP Dutta expressed deep pride in both Abhishek and Kareena's evolution as artists. He mentioned that Abhishek continues to be a significant part of his life, highlighting their enduring bond by noting Abhishek's presence as a special guest at his daughter Nidhi's wedding.

Refugee stands as a remarkable film in Bollywood history, not just for its narrative but for the way it launched the careers of two of its biggest stars. The film's unique production process, devoid of a traditional script, allowed Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan to explore their roles with a level of creative freedom that set the foundation for their future success.