The Secret Behind Abhishek Bachchan’s Shelved Debut Film Revealed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

In a short video, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra revealed that Abhishek Bachchan was initially set to debut in the film “Samjhauta Express,” not “Refugee.” The film, which featured Abhishek as a Pakistani terrorist, was canceled just three months before shooting due to concerns about its impact on his career. Disappointed, Mehra burned all the film’s research materials. Abhishek eventually made his debut in 2000 with “Refugee.”

The film’s message was a critique of the futility of violence between nations, but due to the sensitive timing, no one wanted to take the risk, leading to its shelving.

This story highlights the challenges and risks filmmakers face when creating groundbreaking works, especially in a demanding industry like Bollywood.