sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bhagwan Dada, Danny Denzongpa, Dharma Productions, Dhoom 2, Esha Deol, Fiza

Hrithik (born 10 January 1974)[1] is an Indian film actor known for his versatility and work ethic in addition to great dramatic range.[2][3] After small appearances as a child in several films throughout the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai in 2000. His performance in the film earned him Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut. He followed it with leading roles in and (both released in 2000) and the multi-star blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001).

Following through with several unnoticed performances from 2002 to 2003, he starred in the blockbusters Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and its sequel (2006), both of which won him numerous Best Actor awards.[4] Roshan received his third Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 2006 for his performance in the 2, and his fourth for Jodhaa [5] for which he was also awarded at the Golden Minbar International Film Festival. He later received further acclaim for his work in Guzaarish (2010), and critical and commercial success with (2011), Agneepath (2012) and (2013), his biggest commercial success so far. He has thus established himself as a leading contemporary actor of Indian Cinema.[6][7]

Contents

1 Biography

1.1 Early career

1.2 2000: Debut

1.3 2001-2002: Growing pains

1.4 2003–present: Success

1.5 Industry related activities

2 Personal life

3 Filmography

3.1 Film

3.2 Television

4 See also

5 References 6 External links

Biography

Early career

Hrithik's maternal grandfather—famous director-producer J. —first introduced his beloved grandson on-screen at age 6 in the hugely successful Aasha (1980), by secretly having his camera crew film without the little boy's knowledge as he danced spontaneously while 'visiting Grandpa' on Grandpa's movie set. As J. Om Prakash later recounted the event:

'The song was to be shot on . Hrithik was on the sets, and he liked the interlude music very much and started dancing. I had asked my cameraperson and crew to be ready. I asked Hrithik if he liked the song, and he said, "Yes, Deda, it is lovely music." I replayed the music and he started dancing, and we shot it without his knowledge. When the music got over, the entire studio applauded excitingly. The remaining part of the music was to be shot in the same way with Jeetu. After Jeetu's shot was over, he came to me and said, "For God's sake 't shoot a single more shot in this film with this boy, otherwise the audience will hoot my performance!" That was a remark that came from Jeetu [Jeetendra, the male lead of Aasha and a major filmstar].'[8]

What followed over the next several years is what adult Hrithik describes as his childhood "lucky mascot" period:[9] tiny one- or two-shot uncredited appearances in various of his family's film projects, where his only task was to have fun and supposedly bring luck to the movie. Thus child Hrithik (aged 6) can be seen riding a tricycle on a beach during the song "Ram Kare Allah Kare" in his father 's production Aap Ke Deewane (1980). In his grandfather J. Om Prakash's Aas Paas (1981), a gap- toothed Hrithik (aged 7) even received a costume and a close-up, as he passes a love note from to during the song "Shehar Main Charchi Hai".

Hrithik's one childhood speaking role—his only substantial film performance as a child— came about at age 11-12 through a family emergency, of sorts: The boy originally cast as Govinda, the title character's adopted son in director J. Om Prakash's Bhagwan Dada (1986), fell seriously ill just as shooting was supposed to start. They needed a boy immediately, so at the very last minute his grandfather suggested taking Hrithik.[10] Although still completely untrained, the key role of Govinda required young Hrithik to not only trade dialogue with some of the biggest film stars of the day -- Rajnikanth as the title character, a former gangster morally reformed by his love for this child, plus and his real-life father Rakesh Roshan and as the villain—but do songs with Rajnikanth, dance with Sridevi, and fight Danny Denzongpa. He even had to die. Govinda's brutal murder at the hands (or rather, feet) of the evil ganglord played by Danny Denzongpa becomes the catalyst for the film's climax.

J. Om Prakash recalls how Bhagwan Dada revealed to him Hrithik's unvarnished "artistic endowment":

' I was telling him how to perform in his death scene but he said, "Wait, Deda (that's what he calls me), check me out in the scene". He did a mind-blowing take and I knew that a brilliant actor was in the making.'[8]

After completing school and college, Hrithik turned down a Masters Degree scholarship for further study in the United States, in order to concentrate instead on film.[11] To learn filmcraft from literally the ground up—he started off sweeping floors, then gradually progressed to more demanding responsibilities like story development, camera work, direction, and editing—Hrithik spent the next six years as a largely uncredited assistant to his father, director Rakesh Roshan, from Khel (1992) through (1997).[12]

2000: Debut

On January 14, 2000, Roshan made his film début as leading man in the film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai opposite another débutante, actress Amisha Patel. The film, which was directed by his father Rakesh Roshan and saw him playing a double role, proved to be very successful at the box office and was declared a runaway "blockbuster" with a revenue of INR620 million (US$9.9 million)[13] which became the highest grossing film in for year 2000[14] and winner of the Filmfare Best Movie Award. Roshan's performance was extremely well-received, and the film made him an star overnight all across India.[15][16] newspaper (Chennai) proclaimed: "A perfect professional has come to stay."[17] National newsmagazine India Today's feature cover story on March 20, 2000 compared him favorably, not against other débutants, but rather the industry-reigning "" triumvirate – , , and – celebrating Hrithik's "sophistication", "intelligence", "charisma", and "honesty" before concluding: "Finally you have an actor who is also a star."[18] Hrithik eventually received both the 2001 Filmfare Best Male Debut Award and the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his double-performance in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000). Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai ultimately entered the Limca Book of Records in 2003 for the most number of awards ever won by a single film – 102 awards.[19]

Roshan was next seen in September 2000 as the younger brother of 's title character in Khalid Mohammed's Fiza, portraying an innocent Muslim boy who becomes a terrorist after the between Hindus and Muslims in 1992-93. Although the film was a box office flop, Hrithik's performance was much praised, earning him a second nomination for Best Actor at the 2001 Filmfare ceremony. Taran Adarsh from indiaFM noted, "The mainstay of the film is undoubtedly . His body language, his diction, his expressions, his overall persona deserves great praise. With this film, Hrithik proves that there is more to him than just being a fashionable rage, a Mills & Boon lover-boy and a sex symbol. His talent comes to the fore in several scenes, especially those with Karisma. All said and done, the show belongs to Hrithik, who saves Fiza to a major extent. A brilliant performance undoubtedly!"[20]

Hrithik's last release of 2000 – director 's Mission Kashmir with , , and – became the third-highest grossing film of the year.[14] Roshan's performance, as a young man traumatized by the discovery that his adoptive father had been responsible for the death of his entire birth family, was yet again hugely acclaimed. One critic praised him, "Hrithik once again cuts a splendid performance as a youngster sucked in the vortex of terrorism. He is portrayed as anti- government in the early part of the film -- a bold role to play for even a seasoned actor, leave alone a budding superstar."

All these achievements established Hrithik Roshan firmly as one of the biggest stars in the Hindi film industry.[21] "Hrithikmania" swept India.[22]

2001-2002: Growing pains

Subhash Ghai's Yaadein was his first release in 2001, a straightforward romantic drama which for the first time paired him with and also reunited him with veteran lead actor Jackie Shroff from Mission Kashmir. Despite major hype surrounding the film, Yaadein failed to do well critically and commercially within the Indian domestic market. Yet it became a major box office success overseas. Hrithik's chemistry with Kareena Kapoor was praised and became extremely popular. He bounced back by co-starring in director-producer 's mammoth reaffirmation of traditional family values amid the global Indian diaspora – Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham – which did extremely well at the box office, becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2001 and the biggest hit overseas.[23][24] Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham co-starred Hrithik for the first time with India's all-time most revered actor , as Mr Bachchan's natural born younger son, as well as senior Hindi superstar Shah Rukh Khan who played the adopted elder son whom the younger brother strives to reunite with the estranged family. The other co-stars were Kareena Kapoor as the younger brother's ally and love interest, Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan (who had played Hrithik's mother in 2000's Fiza) as the mother, and as the sister-in-law who married Shah Rukh. Roshan's performance in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was again well received, and his performance in this film earned him several nominations for Best Supporting Actor at various year-end award ceremonies.

The year 2002, however, proved to be an unsuccessful year for Hrithik.

His first release of 2002 was 's Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, a love- conquers-all story which reunited him with Amisha Patel for the first time after their hit Kaho Naa ... Pyaar Hai (2000). Unlike their first film together though, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage disappointed both critics and the box office.

His second release of 2002 was Na Tum Jaano Na Hum directed by Arjun Sablok, a love triangle story which co-starred and . Despite an original storyline and gorgeous locations in and around Vancouver, Canada, the film received mixed reviews from critics and performed poorly at the box office.

Hrithik's final release that year was a high-profile release from the famous studio – Mujhse Karoge! – the first feature film directed by . A movie whose storyline explored the interaction of love and friendship, Mujhse Dosti Karoge! was expected to do well both critically and commercially because of Hrithik's casting with Rani Mukherji (for the first time) and Kareena Kapoor. But the film neither received critical praise nor was it a commercial success.

Hrithik's string of flops carried over into early 2003, with veteran director Sooraj R. Barjatya's . Cast alongside Kareena Kapoor (yet again) and for the first time , Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon was panned by critics and had a dismal response at the box office.[citation needed]

It was at this stage in his career that one magazine's cover famously described him as "Finished" ... which Hrithik took forward as motivation to change his approach toward signing projects.[25]

2003–present: Success

During a television appearance on with director-producer Karan Johar, Hrithik Roshan explained his decision to break from industry standard practice (overlapping film shoots) in order to focus his art on one single film at a time.[26]

Consequently, Roshan appeared in Koi... Mil Gaya, India's first successful science fiction movie, which saw Roshan portraying a mentally disabled young man named Rohit Mehra who befriends an alien who had been stranded on Earth.[16] The film earned INR800 million (US$13 million) and proved the highest-grossing and most critically successful Hindi movie of 2003. It also won many awards, including 2003 for "Best Film on Other Social Issues", "Best Special Effects", and "Best Choreography"[27] as well as many of the 2004 including among others "Best Film" AND both Hrithik's second Filmfare Award for Best Actor and his first Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.[28][29] Taran Adarsh noted, "Hrithik Roshan dominates the show and packs in a power-packed performance. The role of a mentally challenged person is no cakewalk, but the actor takes to it like a fish takes to water. He manages to pull off the zero to hero routine exceptionally well. As an actor, he scales dizzier heights with this splendid performance."[30] Roshan's performance in Koi... Mil Gaya was later included in the 2010 issue of the "Top 80 Iconic Performances" by Filmfare magazine. [31]

Hritik Roshan with his wax statue at

Lakshya was Roshan's only release in 2004, a fictionalized coming-of-age story set against events from the real-life 1999 fought between India and at extreme high elevation in the Himalaya. Directed by , Lakshya reunited Roshan with both the great Amitabh Bachchan (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), who played his commanding officer, and Preity Zinta (Mission Kashmir, Koi... Mil Gaya), who played a female war correspondent inspired by the real-life Barkha Dutt. Shot on locations ranging from the real Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun up to remote mountain areas at extreme elevations as high as 17,796 feet in Ladakh (setting a new world record for highest-ever crane shot),[32] the film was critically acclaimed but achieved only average box office receipts.[33] Hrithik's performance as the central character was praised by critics,[34] and once again was included in the 2010 issue of the "Top 80 Iconic Performances" by Filmfare.[35]

"Sometimes you can actually tell how an actor has come of age in a movie that deals with coming of age and growing up pangs. Hrithik Roshan´s evolution is marked by a certain self discovery that spreads through the film as it goes on. It´s cinematic translucence at its best. And the perfectionist in Hrithik makes sure that the change is marked not just through the plot but also through his hairstyle, his body language, the look in his eyes... So much so that you grow up along with him, feel his pain and become part of his story. Right to the end."

—Filmfare on Roshan's performance in Lakshya (2004)[35]

Roshan next surfaced on-screen in June 2006 with and in the innovative Krrish, a sequel to his family's 2003 production Koi... Mil Gaya.

Again directed by his father Rakesh Roshan with music provided by his uncle , Krrish saw Hrithik play a triple-role for the first time: Rohit Mehra, Rohit's son Krishna Mehra, and Krishna's alter ego the title character 'Krrish' – India's first true film superhero – with exciting superpower action sequences choreographed by Hong Kong film martial arts expert Tony Ching Siu-Tung, also a first for Indian cinema.

Krrish was a major critical and box office success which became the second-highest grosser of 2006 — second only to Hrithik's later 2006 release, with a worldwide revwnue of INR1.17 billion (US$19 million) .[36] His performance as a superhero was praised, earning him many "Best Actor" awards at various award ceremonies, including Star Screen and the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA).[4] IndiaFM wrote, "To state that Hrithik is the soul of Krrish would be an understatement. If the actor walked away with all noteworthy awards in Koi... Mil Gaya, it's going to be an encore with Krrish. You cannot imagine any other actor enacting the role of a gifted child with aplomb. If his mask and robe look is splendid, watch his makeup, gait and mannerisms as the aged father and you had to agree, he's one of the finest talents on the Indian screen today. Krrish is yet another ground-breaking film in his dazzling repertoire!"[37]

Any quibble that Hrithik Roshan might save his best work for his own family's films was completely squelched by his November 2006 Dhoom 2: not just the highest-grossing film of 2006, but at time of its release the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.[38][39]

For Dhoom 2 – sequel to the highly successful 2004 Dhoom from Yash Raj Films, and again directed by – Hrithik for the first time featured opposite India's most internationally well known actress, Aishwarya Rai (, Mistress of Spices, Provoked, The Last Legion, The Pink Panther 2). Roshan's show-stealing performance, as the enigmatic and sexy master thief known only as 'Mister A', earned him widespread critical acclaim[4][40] from such disparate sources as Variety, "Loaded with enough attitude, Bollywood starpower and buff bodies to stop a speeding train"[41] to The New York Times, "[O]ld-fashioned star power is what animates and elevates it"[42] to CNN-IBN, "Hrithik Roshan is the heart, the soul, and the spirit of the film."[43] The movie emerged a global blockbuster and grossed INR1.50 billion (US$24 million) worldwide.

In 2006 Hrithik Roshan (in Dhoom 2) beat out himself (in Krrish) to bring home his third career Filmfare Best Actor Award.

Roshan's next project did not release until February 2008, due its sheer size and scale: 's . He played a historical person for the first time, as the young Muslim Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great who marries the Hindu princess Jodhabai as his Empress () in a political alliance to ensure peace in the realm, and thus must learn respect and tolerance in his personal relations as well as the empire he governs. Jodhaa Akbar did very good business, both in India and abroad, earning INR1.12 billion (US$18 million).[24][44] Hrithik's performance was widely appreciated by both audiences and critics,[4] earning him his fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award as well as his first international award –"Best Actor" at the Golden Minbar International Film Festival in Kazan, Russia.[45]

Roshan appeared briefly in childhood friend 's directorial début, in January 2009, a comedy-satire set against the Hindi film industry. Hrithik played a movie superstar named 'Zaffar Khan' who slyly dodges a not-so-enthralling project he's already shooting in favor of a higher-profile movie with another producer, thus creating the vacuum which allowed the protagonist played by Farhan Akhtar (Zoya's brother) to get his first shot at being a Film Hero. Luck by Chance failed to find an audience but was well received by critics,[46][47] earning a 75% "fresh" rating at .[48] Throughout 2009 Hrithik Roshan was heavily involved with his family's next home production, the ambitious multi-national romantic thriller Kites, which did not release until May 2010. Largely shot in the United States (Nevada and New Mexico), Kites was produced by his father Rakesh Roshan but directed by (Gangster, Life In A... Metro, Barfi!). Hrithik played a grey character, an American-born man in Las Vegas running a green card scam where he has married 11 different women in exchange for money. All hell breaks loose when he falls in love with his 11th illegal wife, played by Uruguayan-Mexican actress Barbara Mori, who is engaged to a casino gangster's son. Kites received a huge national and international release on what was then a record number of screens, becoming the first Bollywood movie to break into the North American top 10.[49] However, its mixed Hindi-English-Spanish dialogues seemed to confuse domestic Indian audiences.[50] The film took a strong opening but eventually underperformed in India,[51] although was better welcomed by international audiences and critics.[52][53][54]

November 2010 saw Hrithik's first collaboration with director (Black, ): the bittersweet drama Guzaarish, which united him for the third time with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Upon release, the film received overwhelmingly positive reviews. As, for instance, Subhash . Jha: "No film in living memory has brought out the sheer blessing of being alive with such spirit and glory."[55] Roshan's deft portrayal of Ethan Mascarenhas, a quadriplegic, was universally acclaimed as "one of the best performances of his career"[56][57][58] and earned him "Best Actor" nominations in all that year's leading award ceremonies.

Hrithik Roshan with co-star Aishwarya Rai promoting Guzaarish

In July 2011, he appeared in Zoya Akhtar's multi-star comedy Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara alongside and Farhan Akhtar as three 30-something lifelong friends and apparently secure professionals who rediscover their lives and their relationship during a road trip in Spain. This film also paired Hrithik romantically with for the first time. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara opened to extremely positive reviews, and Roshan's portrayal of a compulsive workaholic (a financial trader in London) was much praised. According to , "Hrithik Roshan once again brings real depth to his character with a spectacular performance. He's shy and restrained, then lets go with such fantastic intensity that you make the inward journey with his character".[59] The film grossed INR1.53 billion (US$24 million) worldwide, surpassing even Dhoom 2 among Hrithik's films.[60] The film was declared as "super-hit" in both in India and Overseas.[61] Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara dominated year-end awards for Hindi film, winning 33 awards out of a total 66 nominations, sweeping 7 Filmfare Awards – including both "Best Film" and "Best Film (Critics)"[62] – as well as 9 International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) – including "Best Film"[63] – and 2 National Film Awards.[64] Roshan received "Best Actor" nominations all round, despite sharing equal screen time with two other actors.

In 2012, he then appeared in Agneepath directed by for Karan Johar's , a reworking of the classic 1990 Agneepath revenge drama produced by . Cast alongside Priyanka Chopra and opposite villains played by Sanjay Dutt (as Kancha Cheena) and , Roshan won huge praise for successfully reinterpreting one of the iconic characters of Hindi cinema – Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, originally given breath by the great Amitabh Bachchan – and boldly making the character his own. "Agneepath is worth a watch essentially to savor Hrithik's performance."[65]

"Nowhere does the remake remind you of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer that came out in 1990, except when Hrithik recites those memorable lines from Agneepath, the poem, and then says his full name, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan.

There is no question of Hrithik surpassing Bachchan's accomplished performance or falling short in his own portrayal of the legendary character. He is brilliant, but then that is not surprising as Hrithik is an actor more than he is a superstar. The way he played his part, given the complexities and vulnerabilities of his character, is remarkable. He has shown restraint and gruesome bloodiness in equal measure, not once going wrong with his depiction of the fury within. For the duration of his screen time, he ceases to be Hrithik Roshan, and remains Vijay from Mandwa; he breathes fire and soul into the role."

—Rubina A. Khan for First Post (India) on Roshan's performance in Agneepath (2012) [66]

Agneepath (2012) took a historic opening and broke all opening-day records.[67] The movie finished its theatrical run with a worldwide gross of INR1.93 billion (US$31 million), making it one of the highest-grossing movies in Hindi film history.[68]

His next film, the mega-project Krrish 3 (2013) — a sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and Krrish (2006), in which Hrithik Roshan again plays the triple role of superhero Krrish, his alter ego Krishna Mehra, and the father Rohit Mehra — will be released on November 1, 2013 after a long gap of more than 21 months, due to Hrithik's heavy personal involvement in all phases of this home production directed by his father Rakesh Roshan with music composed by his uncle Rajesh Roshan. Krrish 3 reunites Hrithik with his female lead from the second film, Priyanka Chopra, and pits him against villains played by Oberoi and Kangna Ranaut.[69]

The official Krrish 3 trailer broke all previous Indian film records for movie trailers, attracting more than 12 million views at YouTube in less than two weeks[70] — even eclipsing the trailers for such Hollywood superhero mega-blockbusters as Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012).[71][72][73][74] Krrish 3 upon release attracted positive to mixed reviews. Commercailly, it became a box-office phenomenon, grossing INR3.74 billion (US$60 million) worldwide and was declared a "blockbuster" [75]

During a shoot in Thailand for his upcoming film Bang Bang (2014) with Katrina Kaif, Roshan suffered a head injury from a stunt accident. On July 7, 2013 he underwent brain surgery at Hinduja Hospital, Khar, , to relieve a chronic subdural hematoma.[76][77]

Industry related activities

Besides acting, Roshan made his debut as a playback singer in Kites (2010), and has also sung for the films Guzaarish (2010) and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).[78]

In 2011 Roshan featured as a judge for the television dance competition reality show, Just Dance along with famed choreographers Khan and .[79] [80] He was paid 1.75 crore INR per episode which makes him the highest paid Bollywood actor in television entertainment.The show got the highest opening (a cumulative TRP of 4.7) for a reality show that year for which he was voted as the best TV host by a poll conducted by Ormax Media.[81]

A life-size wax figure was installed at London's Madame Tussauds Wax Museum on 20 January 2011, making him the fifth Indian actor to have been replicated as a wax statue in the museum.[82] Another statue was installed in Washington, D.C. in 2012.[83] Roshan launched his own casual wear brand HRx in November 2013.[84]

Personal life

Roshan with his wife Sussanne Khan Roshan at premiere of Kites in New York

Roshan was born in Mumbai to a family of cinema personalities. His father, film director Rakesh Roshan, is the son of music director Roshan, while his mother, Pinky, is the daughter of producer and director J. Om Prakash. Hrithik has an elder sister, Sunaina. His uncle Rajesh Roshan is a music director. As a child, Roshan attended the Bombay Scottish School.[85] He later attended Sydenham College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Commerce.[86]

During an interview he revealed that his childhood was traumatized because of stammering, a speech disorder that surfaced when he was around six years old and plagues him even today. "For oral tests at school, I used to bunk school, I used to fall sick, I used to break my hand, I used to get a sprain," the actor said. He said that things improved for him gradually, after he started practicing speech therapies on a daily basis. [87]

Roshan married Sussanne Khan, daughter of actor , on 20 December 2000. Hrithik had known Sussanne since the age of twelve.They moved among the same circle of friends while they were growing up in Juhu but Hrithik was shy to confess his feelings. [88] Sussanne became his girlfriend for 4 years before their marriage.[89] The couple has two sons, Hrehaan (born in 2006) and Hridhaan (born in 2008).[90][91]

Roshan has two thumbs on his right hand.[92] Although it is usually hidden in his films, it was shown in Koi... Mil Gaya and was even used as a minor plot point, as Jaadoo the alien was also designed to have two thumbs.[93]

On December 13, 2013, Hrithik announced that his wife Sussanne has decided to separate and end their 17 year long relationship.[94][95][96][97]

Filmography

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Hrithik Roshan

Film

Year Film Role Notes

1980 Aasha Uncredited appearance in song "Jaane Hum Sadak Ke Logon Se"

1980 Aap Ke Deewane Uncredited appearance in song "Ram Kare Allah Kare"

1981 Aas Paas Uncredited appearance in song "Shehar Main Charchi Hai" 1986 Bhagwan Dada Govinda