Twenty six years. Hundreds of opinions. One honest admission. Abhishek Bachchan says the only thing that has truly changed since ‘Refugee’ is that he is finally comfortable in his own skin.
Image Source: Instagram
Abhishek Bachchan marked 26 years in Hindi cinema this year. His debut film Refugee released in 2000. It also marked the acting debut of Kareena Kapoor. In a recent conversation with a media portal, Abhishek spoke about what has genuinely shifted for him over more than two decades in the industry.
The biggest change Abhishek identified was not about craft or technique. It was about comfort. He said that when he started out, there was a noticeable discomfort in front of the camera. That discomfort, he said, is gone now.
Advertisement
“The only thing that’s changed is I’m more comfortable. I think when I started out, there was a bit of discomfort. But now, I’m more comfortable being in front of the camera,” he said.
Advertisement
He connected that comfort directly to decision-making. Being at ease with himself, he said, gives him greater clarity about the work he wants to take on. He said that in the last five to seven years in particular, he has become very clear about what he does not want to do. Early in a career, he noted, the anxiety about getting work pushes actors to say yes to almost everything. That pressure has eased for him.
Abhishek Bachchan also addressed a topic that follows many actors from prominent film families. He said he has never felt insecure about what his peers or contemporaries were achieving. That specific type of insecurity, he said, simply has not been part of his experience.
What he does feel, he clarified, is a different kind of insecurity. The question of whether he will be able to deliver in a given role. Whether he is capable enough for what is being asked of him. He said most actors carry that. It is about the work itself, not about who else is succeeding around you.
He described the shift in his approach as coming from maturity and a certain calmness. That combination, he said, shows up in the work.
Refugee remains a significant film in Bollywood history not just for Abhishek but for Kareena Kapoor as well, both of whom began their careers with it. Twenty six years later, Abhishek says the most important thing that has changed is simply that he is no longer looking over his shoulder.
Advertisement
