June 30, 2000, marked a defining moment in Bollywood as Abhishek Bachchan stepped into the spotlight with JP Dutta’s Refugee—and set the year’s box office ablaze in the process. The debut film didn’t just introduce the next generation of Bachchan legacy to the silver screen, it delivered a thunderous ₹1.56 crore opening, securing the title of 2000’s biggest opener…at least for 120 days.
A Debut Steeped in Legacy
With sky-high anticipation surrounding the son of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan and the debut of Kareena Kapoor Khan—granddaughter of cinema titan Raj Kapoor—Refugee arrived with built-in buzz. Its commercial success reflected that excitement, catapulting both debutants to instant stardom.
The Record-Breaking Run
For four months, Refugee wore the crown as the year’s most successful opener, surpassing even Salman Khan’s Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (₹1.29 crore). But the reign came to an end thanks to another breakout star of 2000—Hrithik Roshan.
Hrithik Roshan’s Comeback with ‘Mission Kashmir’
Interestingly, Hrithik’s own debut with Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai began modestly, opening at just ₹45 lakh. However, he roared back onto the charts with Mission Kashmir, which released 120 days after Refugee and raked in ₹1.64 crore on day one—setting a new record for the year.
Top 10 Opening Day Collections of 2000
Here’s a snapshot of the biggest openers in Bollywood that year (India net collections)
| Rank | Film | Day 1 Collection |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mission Kashmir | ₹1.64 crore |
| 2 | Refugee | ₹1.56 crore |
| 3 | Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge | ₹1.29 crore |
| 4 | Mela | ₹1.27 crore |
| 5 | Josh | ₹1.25 crore |
| 6 | Fiza | ₹1.23 crore |
| 7 | Mohabbatein | ₹1.19 crore |
| 8 | Badal | ₹1.18 crore |
| 9 | Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega | ₹1.15 crore |
| 10 | Chal Mere Bhai | ₹1.09 crore |
A New Chapter for Jr. Bachchan
Fast forward to today—Abhishek Bachchan is working on his upcoming film King, alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Deepika Padukone. Another project, Kaalidhar Laapata, is also queued up for a digital release.
A quarter-century after his debut, Bachchan Jr. continues to evolve—proof that while records may be broken, a grand entrance can leave a lasting legacy.
