Early life and background

Roshan was born on 10 January 1974 in Bombay to a family prominent in Bollywood. [1] He
is of Punjabi and Bengali descent on his paternal side. Hrithik's paternal grandmother Ira was
a Bengali.[2][3][4] His father, film director Rakesh Roshan, is the son of music director
Roshanlal Nagrath; his mother, Pinky, is the daughter of producer and director J. Om
Prakash. His uncle, Rajesh, is a music composer.[1] Roshan has an older sister, Sunaina, and
was educated at the Bombay Scottish School.[5] Although Roshan practices Hinduism,[6] he
says that "I'm not religious. I don't visit temples. But I hope there is a superpower." [7]

Roshan pictured with father Rakesh at the Jagran Film Festival in 2014[8]

Roshan felt isolated as a child; he was born with an extra thumb fused to the one on his right
hand, which led some of his peers to avoid him.[9] He has stammered since the age of six; this
caused him problems at school, and he feigned injury and illness to avoid oral tests. [10] He
was helped by daily speech therapy.[10][11]

Roshan's grandfather, Prakash first brought him on-screen at the age of six in the film Aasha
(1980); he danced in a song enacted by Jeetendra, for which Prakash paid him ₹100.[12][13]
Roshan made uncredited appearances in various family film projects, including his father's
production Aap Ke Deewane (1980). In Prakash's Aas Paas (1981), he appeared in the song
"Shehar Main Charcha Hai".[14] The actor's only speaking role during this period came when
he was 12; he was seen as Govinda, the title character's adopted son, in Prakash's Bhagwaan
Dada (1986).[15][16] Roshan decided that he wanted to be a full-time actor, but his father
insisted that he focus on his studies.[16] In his early 20s, he was diagnosed with scoliosis that
would not allow him to dance or perform stunts. Initially devastated,[17][18] he eventually
decided to become an actor anyway. Around a year after the diagnosis, he took a chance by
jogging on a beach when he was caught in a downpour. There was no pain, and becoming
more confident, he was able to increase his pace with no adverse effects. Roshan sees this day
as "the turning point of [his] life." [17]

Roshan attended Sydenham College, where he took part in dance and music festivals while
studying, graduating in commerce.[1] Roshan assisted his father on four films—Khudgarz
(1987), King Uncle (1993), Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997)—while also sweeping the
floor and making tea for the crew.[1][19] After pack-up, Roshan would enact Shah Rukh
Khan's scenes from Koyla and film himself to make a judgement about his performance as an
actor.[20] While he assisted his father, he studied acting under Kishore Namit Kapoor.[21][22]
Film career
Main article: Hrithik Roshan filmography

2000–2002: Debut, success and setback

Roshan was originally scheduled to make his screen debut as a lead actor opposite Preity
Zinta in the cancelled film Shekhar Kapur's Tara Rum Pum Pum.[23] Instead, he starred in his
father's romantic drama Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) opposite another debutante, Ameesha
Patel. Roshan played dual roles: Rohit, an aspiring singer brutally killed after witnessing a
murder, and Raj, an NRI who falls in love with Patel's character.[24] To prepare, he trained
with the actor Salman Khan to bulk up physically,[25] worked to improve his diction and took
lessons in acting, singing, dancing, fencing and riding.[26] With global revenues of ₹620
million (US$8.7 million),[27] Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai became the highest-grossing Indian film
of 2000.[28] His performance was acclaimed by critics;[20][29] Suggu Kanchana on Rediff.com
wrote, "[Roshan] is good. The ease and style with which he dances, emotes, fights, makes
one forget this is his debut film ... He seems to be the most promising among the recent lot of
star sons we have been subjected to."[24] For the role, Roshan received Best Male Debut and
Best Actor Awards at the annual Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, and Zee Cine Awards.[30]
He became the first actor to win both Filmfare Best Debut and Best Actor awards the same
year.[31] The film established Roshan as a prominent actor in Bollywood.[32] The actor found
life hard after his overnight success, particularly the demands on his time. [33]

In his second release, Khalid Mohammed's crime drama Fiza, Roshan played Amaan, an
innocent Muslim boy who becomes a terrorist after the 1992–93 Bombay riots.[33] Roshan
appeared in the film to expand his horizons as an actor.[34] Co-starring Karisma Kapoor and
Jaya Bachchan, Fiza was moderately successful at the box office,[35] and Roshan's
performance earned him a second nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare ceremony. [36]
Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama praised him as the production's prime asset,
commending his "body language, his diction, his expressions, [and] his overall persona." [37]
Roshan next appeared in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's action drama Mission Kashmir (2000)
alongside Sanjay Dutt, Preity Zinta, and Jackie Shroff. Set in the valley of Kashmir during
the Indo-Pakistani conflicts, the film addressed the topics of terrorism and crime, and was a
financial success.[28] Roshan was drawn to his complex role of a young man traumatised by
the discovery that his adoptive father had been responsible for the death of his entire birth
family.[34] In Adarsh's opinion, Roshan "brightens up the screen with his magnetic presence.
His body language, coupled with his expressions, is sure to win him plaudits." [38]
Roshan at an event for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)—his biggest commercial success to that
point[39]

In 2001, Roshan appeared in two films, the first of which was Subhash Ghai's Yaadein, a
romantic drama which paired him with Kareena Kapoor and reunited him with Shroff.
Although highly anticipated, Yaadein was reviled by critics; in The Hindu, Ziya Us Salam
criticised the director for relying on Roshan's commercial appeal.[40][41] Roshan next had a
supporting role in Karan Johar's ensemble melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor.
He was cast as Rohan Raichand—the younger son of Bachchan's character who plots to
reunite him with his adopted son (played by Khan)—after Johar had watched a rough cut of
Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.[42] Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... finished as India's second highest-
grossing film of the year,[43] and among the most successful Bollywood films in the overseas
market, earning over ₹1 billion (US$14 million) worldwide. [44] Writing for Rediff.com,
Anjum N described Roshan as "the surprise scene-stealer", praising him for holding his own
against the established actors.[45] Roshan received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for
Best Supporting Actor for his performance.[36]

In 2002 Vikram Bhatt's romance Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage reunited him with Ameesha
Patel but failed at the box office, as did Arjun Sablok's romance Na Tum Jaano Na Hum
(2002).[46] Roshan's final role that year was in a Yash Raj Films production, the high-profile
Mujhse Dosti Karoge! co-starring Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor. The romantic drama
was heavily promoted before its release and made money internationally, though not in
India.[47][48] In another commercial failure, Sooraj R. Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon,
Roshan was cast alongside Kareena Kapoor for the fourth time, and Abhishek Bachchan. The
press labelled Roshan a "one-trick pony" and suggested that the failure of these films would
end his career.[40][49]

2003–2008: Revival and awards success

Roshan's career began to revive with a starring role in Koi... Mil Gaya (2003).[20][50] The film,
directed and produced by his father, centers on his character Rohit Mehra, a developmentally
disabled young man, who comes in contact with an extraterrestrial being—a role that required
him to lose nearly 8 kilograms (18 lb). Roshan recalls the experience of starring in the film
fondly: "I could live my childhood [again]. I could eat as many chocolates as I wanted. I
became a baby and everybody was so caring towards me." [51] In the book Film Sequels,
Carolyn Jess-Cooke drew similarities between the character and Forrest Gump, portrayed by
Tom Hanks in the titular film, but this idea was dismissed by Roshan.[51][52] Film critics were
polarised on their view of the film—some of them negatively compared its storyline to the
1982 Hollywood release E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial—but were unanimous in their praise for
Roshan.[17][53] In a 2010 retrospective of the Top 80 Iconic Performances of Bollywood,
Filmfare noted "how flesh and blood Hrithik's act is. Simply because he believes he is the
part. Watch him laugh, cry or bond with his remote controlled alien friend and note his
nuanced turn."[54] A Rediff.com critic agreed that Roshan was "the turbojet that propels the
film to the realm of the extraordinary."[55] Koi... Mil Gaya was the most popular Bollywood
film of the year, earning ₹800 million (US$11 million), and Roshan won both Filmfare
Awards for Best Actor and Best Actor (Critics).[36][56]

"I am glad I have the intelligence to understand what is happening to me. If I allow myself to get
affected by all this hype, I'll stunt my growth as an actor and be damned for life. I know that I still
have a long way to go before I can even aspire to equal the achievements of any of the superstars. I
know I am good at my job, and I am sure I will be damn good one day but right now, I also know how
bad I can be."

—Roshan on his position as a popular Bollywood actor[7]

The following year, Roshan collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta on Farhan
Akhtar's Lakshya (2004), a fictionalised coming-of-age story set against events from the 1999
Kargil War. He also featured in the item number "Main Aisa Kyun Hoon" (choreographed by
Prabhu Deva) which proved popular with audiences.[57] The film earned Roshan Best Actor
nominations at the Filmfare and Zee Cine ceremony.[36][58] Manish Gajjar of the BBC praised
Roshan's versatility and his transformation from a carefree youth to a determined and
courageous soldier.[59]

Roshan was not seen on screen again until 2006, with three new releases, including a cameo
at the end of the year in the romance I See You.[60] He co-starred with Naseeruddin Shah and
Priyanka Chopra in his father's superhero production Krrish. A follow-up to his family's
production Koi... Mil Gaya, it saw him play dual roles—the title superhero and his character
from the original film. Before production, Roshan travelled to China to train with Tony Ching
for the cable work that would be needed to make his character fly.[61] He sustained several
injuries during production. For example, he tore the hamstring in his right leg and broke his
thumb and toe.[62] Krrish became the second-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2006 with a
worldwide revenue of ₹1.17 billion (US$16 million).[63] It garnered him Best Actor awards at
the 2007 Screen and the International Indian Film Academy Awards.[36] Ronnie Scheib of
Variety considered Roshan a prime asset of the film, noting that he "pulls off the pic's wilder
absurdities with considerable panache."[64]

For his role as an enigmatic master thief in Dhoom 2 (2006)—an action sequel co-starring
Aishwarya Rai, Bipasha Basu and Abhishek Bachchan—Roshan won his third Filmfare
Award for Best Actor.[36] The film critic Rajeev Masand called him "the heart, the soul, and
the spirit of the film", and praised his stunts, concluding that he "holds the film together and
even manages to take your attention away from its many flaws." [65] Bored by playing the
"good guy", Roshan was excited to play a villain for the first time. [61] At the request of the
film's producer Aditya Chopra, Roshan lost 12 pounds (5.4 kg) for the role,[66] and learned
skateboarding, snow boarding, rollerblading and sand surfing.[67][68] With earnings of ₹1.5
billion (US$21 million), Dhoom 2 became the highest-grossing Indian film of all time, a
distinction it held for two years.[69] In the 2007 melodrama Om Shanti Om, he made a cameo
alongside several Bollywood stars.[60]

In 2008, Roshan was cast in Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar, a partly fictionalised
account of a marriage of convenience between the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad
Akbar (played by Roshan) and the Rajput princess Jodha Bai (played by Rai). Gowariker
believed Roshan possessed the regal bearing and physique required to play the role of a
king.[70] For the role, Roshan learned sword-fighting and horse-riding, and also took Urdu
lessons.[71][72] Jodhaa Akbar earned ₹1.12 billion (US$16 million) worldwide.[69] Roshan's
performance earned 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.[36][73] Critics were generally appreciative of Roshan's performance. [17] Raja Sen of
Rediff.com thought that Roshan "proves a very good Akbar. There are times when his
inflection seems too modern, but the actor gives the performance his all, slipping into the skin
of the character and staying there."[74] Roshan ended 2008 with an appearance in the popular
item number "Krazzy 4" from the film of same name.[75]