Hrithik Roshan
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Hrithik Roshan (; born 10 January 1974) is an Indian actor who works in
Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
. He has portrayed a variety of characters and is known for his dancing skills. One of the highest-paid actors in India, he has won many awards, including six
Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
, of which four were for Best Actor. Starting from 2012, he has appeared in '' Forbes India'' Celebrity 100 several times based on his income and popularity. Roshan has frequently collaborated with his father, Rakesh Roshan. He made brief appearances as a child actor in several films in the 1980s and later worked as an
assistant director The role of an assistant director (AD) on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have ...
on four of his father's films. His first leading role was in the box-office success '' Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'' (2000), for which he received several awards. Performances in the 2000 terrorism drama ''
Fiza ''Fiza'', elaborately known as ''Fiza: In Search Of Her Brother'' is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action-thriller film written and directed by Khalid Mohamed, and produced by Pradeep Guha. The film stars Karisma Kapoor in the title role, alongs ...
'' and the 2001 ensemble family drama consolidated his reputation but were followed by several poorly received films. The 2003 science fiction film '' Koi... Mil Gaya'', for which Roshan won two Filmfare Awards, was a turning point in his film career; he later starred as the titular superhero in its sequels: '' Krrish'' (2006) and '' Krrish 3'' (2013). He earned praise for his portrayal of an army officer in '' Lakshya'' (2004), a thief in '' Dhoom 2'' (2006), Mughal emperor Akbar in '' Jodhaa Akbar'' (2008) and a
quadriplegic Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is defined as the dysfunction or loss of Motor control, motor and/or Sense, sensory function in the Cervical vertebrae, cervical area of the spinal cord. A loss of motor function can present as either weak ...
in '' Guzaarish'' (2010). He achieved further commercial success with the comedy-drama ''
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ''Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'' (), is a 2011 Indian Hindi-language Road movie, road comedy drama film directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment. The film stars an ensemble cast of Hrithik ...
'' (2011), the revenge drama '' Agneepath'' (2012), the biopic '' Super 30'' (2019), and action films directed by Siddharth Anand—'' Bang Bang!'' (2014), '' War'' (2019), and '' Fighter'' (2024). Roshan has also performed on stage and debuted on television with the dance reality show '' Just Dance'' (2011). As a judge on the latter, he became the highest-paid film star on Indian television at that time. He is involved with a number of humanitarian causes, endorses several brands and products and has launched his own clothing line. Roshan was married for fourteen years to Sussanne Khan, with whom he has two children.


Early life and background

Roshan was born on 10 January 1974 in
Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
to the Roshan family, prominent in
Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
. He is of Punjabi and Bengali descent on his paternal side. Hrithik's paternal grandmother Ira Roshan (née Moitra) was a Bengali Brahmin. His father, film director Rakesh Roshan, is the son of music director Roshanlal Nagrath, a Punjabi Saraswat Brahmin from
Rawalpindi Rawalpindi is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, third-largest city in the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is a commercial and industrial hub, being the list of cities in P ...
; while his mother, Pinkie, is the daughter of producer and director J. Om Prakash. His maternal grandmother was the sister-in-law of director Mohan Kumar, himself the uncle of model-turned-actor Deepak Parashar. His uncle, Rajesh Roshan, is a music composer whose daughter, Pashmina Roshan, is an actress. Roshan has an older sister, Sunaina, and was educated at the Bombay Scottish School. Roshan belongs to a
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
family, though he considers himself more spiritual than religious. 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. He has stammered since the age of six; this caused him problems at school, and he feigned injury and illness to avoid oral tests. He was helped by daily speech therapy. His father has said that Roshan would lock himself up in the bathroom to pronounce sentence fluently. 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. 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". 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). Roshan decided that he wanted to be a full-time actor, but his father insisted that he focus on his studies. In his early 20s, he was diagnosed with
scoliosis Scoliosis (: scolioses) is a condition in which a person's Vertebral column, spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane. The curve is usually S- or C-shaped over three dimensions. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others ...
that would not allow him to dance or perform stunts. Initially devastated, 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 islife." Roshan attended Sydenham College, where he took part in dance and music festivals while studying, graduating in commerce. Roshan assisted his father on four films—''
Khudgarz () is a 1987 Indian Hindi-language action drama film, produced and directed by Rakesh Roshan under the Film Kraft banner. It features an ensemble cast of Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Govinda (actor), Govinda, Bhanupriya, Amrita Singh and Neel ...
'' (1987), '' King Uncle'' (1993), '' Karan Arjun'' (1995) and ''
Koyla ''Koyla'' ( Coal) is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language action film, action thriller film directed, co-written and produced by Rakesh Roshan starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Amrish Puri in lead roles with Johnny Lever, Ashok Saraf, Salim Gh ...
'' (1997)—while also sweeping the floor and making tea for the crew. 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. While he assisted his father, he studied acting under Kishore Namit Kapoor.


Film career


2000–2002: Debut, success and setback

Roshan was originally scheduled to make his screen debut as a lead actor opposite Preity Zinta in a cancelled film – Shekhar Kapur's ''Tara Rum Pum Pum''. 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. To prepare, he trained with the actor Salman Khan to bulk up physically, worked to improve his diction and took lessons in acting, singing, dancing, fencing and riding. With global revenues of , ''Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'' became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2000. His performance was acclaimed by critics; Suggu Kanchana on Rediff.com wrote, " oshanis 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." For the role, Roshan received Best Male Debut and Best Actor Awards at the annual
Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
, IIFA Awards, and Zee Cine Awards. He became the only actor to win both Filmfare Best Debut and Best Actor awards for the same film. The film established Roshan as a prominent actor in Bollywood. The actor found life hard after his overnight success, particularly the demands on his time. In his second release, Khalid Mohammed's crime drama ''
Fiza ''Fiza'', elaborately known as ''Fiza: In Search Of Her Brother'' is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action-thriller film written and directed by Khalid Mohamed, and produced by Pradeep Guha. The film stars Karisma Kapoor in the title role, alongs ...
'', Roshan played Amaan, an innocent Muslim boy who becomes a terrorist after the 1992–93 Bombay riots. Roshan appeared in the film to expand his horizons as an actor. Co-starring
Karisma Kapoor Karisma Kapoor (; born 25 June 1974) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films. One of the leading and highest-paid actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s, Kapoor is a recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Karisma Kapoor ...
and
Jaya Bachchan Jaya Bachchan (''née'' Bhaduri; born 9 April 1948) is an Indian actress and politician. She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of Hindi cinema. She is serving as member of the parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Samajwadi Party ...
, ''Fiza'' was moderately successful at the box office, and Roshan's performance earned him a second nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare ceremony. Taran Adarsh of
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praised him as the production's prime asset, commending his "body language, his diction, his expressions, ndhis overall persona." Roshan next appeared in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's action drama '' Mission Kashmir'' (2000) alongside Sanjay Dutt, Preity Zinta, and
Jackie Shroff Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff (born 1 February 1957), known by his screen name Jackie Shroff, is an Indian actor and former model from Mumbai, Maharashtra, who primarily works in the Hindi film industry. In a career spanning over four decades, he ...
. 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. 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. 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." 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 ''
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'', Ziya Us Salam criticised the director for relying on Roshan's commercial appeal. Roshan next had a supporting role in
Karan Johar Karan Yash Johar (born Rahul Kumar Johar; 25 May 1972), often informally referred to as KJo, is an Indian filmmaker, producer and television personality who primarily works in Hindi cinema. He has launched the careers of several successful ac ...
's ensemble melodrama alongside
Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...
, 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''. finished as India's highest-grossing film of the year, and among the most successful Bollywood films in the overseas market, earning worldwide. Writing for Rediff.com, Anjum N described Roshan as "the surprise scene-stealer", praising him for holding his own against the established actors. Roshan received a nomination for the
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the awards starte ...
for his performance. 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), in which he co-starred with Saif Ali Khan and Esha Deol. 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 comedy was heavily promoted before its release and made money internationally, though not in India. 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.


2003–2008: Revival and awards success

Roshan's career began to revive with a starring role in '' Koi... Mil Gaya'' (2003). 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 . Roshan recalls the experience of starring in the film fondly: "I could live my childhood gain I could eat as many chocolates as I wanted. I became a baby and everybody was so caring towards me." 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. 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. 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." A Rediff.com critic agreed that Roshan was "the turbojet that propels the film to the realm of the extraordinary." ''Koi... Mil Gaya'' was one of the most popular Bollywood films of the year, earning worldwide and Roshan won both Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Actor (Critics). The following year, Roshan collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta on Farhan Akhtar's '' Lakshya'' (2004), a fictionalised
coming-of-age story In genre studies, a coming-of-age story is a genre of literature, theatre, film, and video game that focuses on the growth of a protagonist from childhood to adulthood, or "coming of age". Coming-of-age stories tend to emphasize dialogue or interna ...
set against events from the 1999 Kargil War. He also featured in the item number " Main Aisa Kyun Hoon" (choreographed by
Prabhu Deva Prabhu Deva (born 3 April 1973) is an Indian dance choreographer, film director, producer and actor who has worked predominantly in Tamil language, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu language, Telugu language films also appeared in few Kannada and Malayal ...
) which proved popular with audiences. Roshan found it "one of the most challenging films" of his career at the time and said it made him respect soldiers. Although trade journalists expected the film to do well commercially, it failed to attract a wide audience. However, over the years, it has attained a
cult Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...
status. For the film, Roshan earned Best Actor nominations at the Filmfare and Zee Cine ceremony. Manish Gajjar of the
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praised Roshan's versatility and his transformation from a carefree youth to a determined and courageous soldier. Reviewing the film in 2016, Tatsam Mukherjee of '' India Today'' described his performance as a career-best, highlighting his scene before the climax. 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''. He co-starred with Naseeruddin Shah and
Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra Jonas (; born 18 July 1982) is an Indian actress and producer. The winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, Chopra is India's highest-paid actress and has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards and fiv ...
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. Among the several injuries he sustained during production, Roshan tore the hamstring in his right leg and broke his thumb and toe. ''Krrish'' became the third-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2006 with a worldwide revenue of . It garnered him Best Actor awards at the 2007 Screen and the International Indian Film Academy Awards. 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." 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. 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". Bored by playing the "good guy", Roshan was excited to play an anti-hero who lacks heroic attributes, for the first time. At the request of the film's producer
Aditya Chopra Aditya Chopra (born 21 May 1971) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and studio executive who works in Hindi cinema. He is the Chairman of India's multi-national film, media, and entertainment conglomerate Yash Raj Films (YRF).
, Roshan lost for the role; he also learnt skateboarding, snow boarding, rollerblading and sand surfing. With earnings of , ''Dhoom 2'' became the highest grossing Indian film at that time, a distinction that was held for two years. In the 2007 melodrama ''
Om Shanti Om ''Om Shanti Om'' (transl. literally to ''Peace Be With You'') is a 2007 Hindi-language romantic fantasy film written and directed by Farah Khan, co-written by Mayur Puri and Mushtaq Shiekh, and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies E ...
'', he made a cameo alongside several Bollywood stars. In 2008, Roshan was cast in Ashutosh Gowariker's '' Jodhaa Akbar'', a partly fictionalised account of a marriage of convenience between the
Mughal emperor The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...
Akbar (played by Roshan) and Hindu princess Jodha Bai (played by Rai). Gowariker believed Roshan possessed the regal bearing and physique required to play the role of a king. For the role, Roshan learned sword-fighting and horse-riding, and also took
Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
lessons. ''Jodhaa Akbar'' earned worldwide. Roshan's performance earned him his fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award. Critics were generally appreciative of Roshan's performance.
Raja Sen Raja Sen (born 10 November 1955) is an Indian film and television director and the winner of three National Film Awards from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is the father of Subhasree Sen and Sreyoshi Sen. Career Raja Sen first received reco ...
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." Roshan ended 2008 with an appearance in the popular item number "Krazzy 4" from the film of same name.


2009–2012: Critical acclaim

Following a small role in Zoya Akhtar's '' Luck by Chance'' in 2009, Roshan starred in and recorded "Kites in the Sky" for the multi-national romantic thriller ''
Kites A kite is a tethered heavier than air flight, heavier-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create Lift (force), lift and Drag (physics), drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have ...
'' (2010). In the film, produced by his father, he played a man running a green card scam in Las Vegas in which he has married 11 different women in exchange for money. ''Kites'' opened on a record-breaking 3000 screens, and became the first Bollywood film to break into the North American top 10. However, the film eventually underperformed at India's box office and received negative reviews from critics. The website
Box Office India Box Office India is an Indian film website dedicated to tracking, reporting, and analyzing the financial performance of films released in the Hindi entertainment industry. Established in 2003, Box Office India has become a prominent source of ...
attributed this failure to its multilingual dialogues. In a review for Rediff.com, Matthew Schneeberger thought that Roshan "overacts. A lot. In ''Kites'', he nails a few scenes, but bungles many more, particularly the film's catastrophically bad ending." Roshan then collaborated with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the drama '' Guzaarish'' (2010) in which he had the role of Ethan Mascarenhas, a former magician suffering from quadriplegia, who after years of struggle, files an appeal for
euthanasia Euthanasia (from : + ) is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering. Different countries have different Legality of euthanasia, euthanasia laws. The British House of Lords Select committee (United Kingdom), se ...
. Roshan had reservations about the role but agreed to the project after reading the film's story. To understand his role better, he interacted with paraplegic patients. In his own words, "I used to spend six hours with the patients, initially once a week and then once a month. I used to go to understand what they go through, what they think, what their needs are. They have taught me a lot of things." He also trained with a Ukrainian magician to perform the film's magic stunts, and put on weight to look the part. The film failed at the box office, though it and Roshan's performance were positively received by critics. A writer for Zee News praised the chemistry between Roshan and Rai, adding that they "break the Bollywood mould of stereotypes." Roshan received the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor (Critics) and nominations for Filmfare, IIFA and Zee Cine Award for Best Actor. In 2011, Roshan appeared in Zoya Akhtar's ensemble comedy-drama ''
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ''Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'' (), is a 2011 Indian Hindi-language Road movie, road comedy drama film directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment. The film stars an ensemble cast of Hrithik ...
'' alongside Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar as three friends who embark on a bachelor trip where they overcome their insecurities. Zoya cast Roshan in the role of an uptight
workaholic A workaholic is a person who works Compulsive behavior, compulsively. A workaholic experiences an inability to limit the amount of time they spend on work despite negative consequences such as damage to their relationships or health. There is no ...
as she considers him her favourite actor. For the film's soundtrack, Roshan recorded the song "
Señorita Señorita or Senorita may refer to: Biology * Señorita banana, a banana cultivar from the Philippines * '' Oxyjulis'' (Spanish common name: ), a species of fish Film * ''Senorita'' (film), a 1927 American silent film * ''Señorita'', a 2011 fi ...
" with his co-stars and María del Mar Fernández. ''Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'' was released to positive reviews and Roshan's performance was praised. Rajeev Masand wrote, "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." The film grossed worldwide and became Roshan's first commercial success in three years. Later that year, he made a special appearance in Farhan's ''
Don 2 ''Don 2: The King Is Back'' is a 2011 Indian Hindi language action thriller film written, co-produced and directed by Farhan Akhtar. It is the second installment in the '' Don reboot series''. Jointly produced by Excel Entertainment and Red ...
''. Roshan's only screen appearance in 2012 was in Karan Malhotra's '' Agneepath'', a retelling of the 1990 film of the same name. Cast alongside Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra, Roshan reinterpreted the character Vijay Deenanath Chauhan (originally played by Amitabh Bachchan), a common man who seeks revenge against an unscrupulous man for framing and murdering his father. Roshan was initially sceptical of taking up a role earlier played by Bachchan, and thought hard before accepting. He did not watch the original film for inspiration as he found his role to be completely different. In one of several accidents to happen during production, Roshan suffered a painful back injury. He deemed ''Agneepath'' "the hardest rojectI've ever worked in my life" owing to the exhaustion he felt while filming. The film broke Bollywood's highest opening-day earnings record, and had a worldwide gross of . A ''
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'' reviewer thought Roshan "breathes fire and soul into ''Agneepath''". The actor received a third consecutive Stardust Award for Best Actor in a Drama, having won previously for ''Guzaarish'' and ''Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara''.


2013–present: Commercial success with limited work

Roshan appeared in the third instalment of the ''Krrish'' film series—'' Krrish 3'' (2013) which also starred Priyanka Chopra, Vivek Oberoi and Kangana Ranaut. During production, Roshan was injured when he fell down, which resulted in back pain. Critics thought that the film was entertaining but lacking in originality, though Roshan's performance garnered praise. The editor Komal Nahta lauded Roshan for playing three different characters in the film. ''Krrish 3'' grossed worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. Roshan received a fourth and fifth consecutive Filmfare nomination for his performances in ''Krrish 3'', and the 2014 action comedy '' Bang Bang!'', a remake of the 2010 Hollywood release '' Knight and Day'' and one of the most expensive Bollywood films. Playing the role of an eccentric secret agent who plots to track down a terrorist, Roshan became the first actor to perform a
flyboard A Flyboard is a brand of hydroflight sports, hydroflighting device which supplies propulsion to drive the Flyboard into the air to perform a sport known as hydroflying.ExamplesFlyboard Ultimate SupercutPower Board Expert. A Flyboard rider sta ...
ing stunt in film. While filming in Thailand, Roshan suffered a head injury from a stunt accident and underwent brain surgery at the Hinduja Hospital performed by Dr. B. K. Misra to relieve subacute-subdural hematoma. Writing for Bollywood news website Koimoi, critic Mohar Basu noted that Roshan was "pitch perfect" and "breez dthrough his part brilliantly." The film earned in global ticket sales, making it among the highest-grossing Indian films. For playing the role of a farmer in 2016 BC who travels to
Mohenjo-daro Mohenjo-daro (; , ; ) is an archaeological site in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan. Built 2500 BCE, it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major city, cities, contemp ...
in Ashutosh Gowariker's '' Mohenjo Daro'' (2016), Roshan was paid , a record-breaking remuneration for an Indian actor. He underwent a three-month training to achieve the "lithe" and "agile" physique required for his role. Despite being a highly anticipated release, it failed commercially, and critics were generally unenthusiastic. Dismissing the film as an "unintentional comedy", Anupama Chopra wrote that Roshan "pours his soul into every scene. But the burden of carrying this leaden, cartoon-like narrative proves too much even for his Herculean shoulders." Roshan was next seen alongside Yami Gautam in Sanjay Gupta's '' Kaabil'' (2017), a romantic thriller about a blind man who avenges the rape of his blind wife. To ensure authenticity in his portrayal, Roshan locked himself in a room for four days and avoided contact with people. Reviews for the film were generally positive with particular praise for Roshan's performance. Meena Iyer of ''
The Times of India ''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...
'' found his performance to be his best to date, and Shubhra Gupta on ''
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'' considered him "the only bright spot in this dispirited mess of a movie." The film accumulated worldwide. After two years of screen absence, Roshan starred in two films in 2019, first in
Vikas Bahl Vikas Bahl is an Indian filmmaker, best known for directing Chillar Party (2011), ''Queen (2013 film), Queen'' (2013), ''Super 30 (film), Super 30'' (2019), and ''Shaitaan (2024 film), Shaitaan'' (2024). Early life and education Bahl was born a ...
's biographical film '' Super 30'', based on the mathematician Anand Kumar and his eponymous educational program. For the role, Roshan hired a trainer from Bhagalpur to learn Bihari accent. The film was released to mixed reviews but was a commercial success, grossing worldwide. While NDTV's Saibal Chatterjee found Roshan miscast in his role, Michael Gomes of '' Khaleej Times'' called it one of his best performances. Roshan found his biggest commercial success in the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2019, the -earning action thriller '' War''. The film, Roshan's first with Yash Raj Films since ''Dhoom 2'', tells the story of an Indian soldier ( Tiger Shroff) tasked with eliminating his former mentor (Roshan) who has gone rogue. Reviews for the film and the performances were positive; Rajeev Masand praised Roshan and Shroff for their commitment to the action, "bringing swag to the big stylish sequences and a visceral energy to the one-on-one punch-ups in the movie". Roshan's next release was three years later in '' Vikram Vedha'' (2022), a remake of the Tamil film of the same name. The film tells the story of Vikram, a police inspector (Saif Ali Khan) who sets out to track down and kill Vedha (Roshan), a gangster. It received positive reviews from critics. Rachana Dubey of ''The Times of India'' praised Roshan's performance, writing that he "is menacing, ruthless and extremely emotional in parts". The film did not perform well commercially, leading Roshan to question the kind of roles he would do in the future. Roshan starred in Siddharth Anand's action film '' Fighter'' (2024), with
Deepika Padukone Deepika Padukone (; born 5 January 1986) is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Hindi films. She is India's highest-paid actress, as of 2023, and List of awards and nominations received by Deepika Padukone, her accolades include thre ...
and Anil Kapoor. For their roles as
Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the air force, air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 Octob ...
officers, Roshan and Padukone underwent martial arts training. Ganesh Aaglave of ''Firstpost'' praised the emotional depth of Roshan's performance and his dialogue delivery. It emerged as a modest commercial success. Roshan will next lead the sequel '' War 2 (2025)'' set in the YRF Spy Universe. He is also set to make his directorial debut with the fourth instalment of the ''Krrish'' franchise, which will be jointly produced by his father and Aditya Chopra. In May 2025, Hombale Films announced boarding Roshan for their project.


Other work

Roshan has performed on stage, appeared on television, and launched a clothing line. His first tour (Heartthrobs: Live in Concert (2002) with Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Aftab Shivdasani) was successful in the United States and Canada. At the end of that year, he danced on stage with Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukerji and Shah Rukh Khan at Kings Park Stadium in
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, South Africa in the show ''Now or Never''. In 2011, Roshan served as a judge alongside Farah Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant for the dance competition reality show, '' Just Dance''. He became the highest-paid film star on Indian television after he was paid per episode. The show ran from June to October 2011. In November 2013, Roshan launched his clothing line, the casual wear brand HRx. Roshan is vocal about his childhood stammer. He actively supports the Dilkhush Special School for mentally challenged children in Mumbai. In 2008, he donated to the Nanavati Hospital for the treatment of stammering children. Roshan set up a charity foundation in 2009 that aims to work for handicapped people. He donates roughly for charity every month, and believes that people should publicise their philanthropic work to set an example for others. In 2013, he took part in a festivity at Ghatkopar, whose proceeds went to an NGO supporting tribal girls suffering from malnutrition and starvation. Also that year, he donated to help the victims of the 2013 North India floods. Alongside other Bollywood stars, Roshan played a football match for charity organised by
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
's daughter, Ira, in 2014. The following year, he appeared with Sonam Kapoor in the music video for " Dheere Dheere", whose profits were donated to charity. Later that year, Roshan became the Indian brand ambassador for
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
and the Global Goals campaign's World's Largest Lesson that aims to educate children in over 100 countries about the
Sustainable Development Goals The ''2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'', adopted by all United Nations (UN) members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of these global goals is "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" – wh ...
. In 2016, Roshan and other Bollywood actors made donations for building homes for families affected by the 2015 South Indian floods. Following his debut film, Roshan signed on for endorsement deals with
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...
, Tamarind and Hero Honda, all for three years and for at least . As of 2010, he is celebrity endorser for such brands and products as Provogue, Parle Hide and Seek, Reliance Communications and Hero Honda and recently roshan has completed six years with Rado. ''The Times of India'' reported that Roshan received to for each endorsement, making him one of the highest-paid male celebrity endorsers. In 2016, Duff & Phelps estimated his brand value to be US$34.1 million, the eighth highest of Indian celebrities. In 2017, Roshan was signed as the brand ambassador of a Health and wellness startup Cure.fit and is touted as one of the largest endorsement deal signed by an Indian startup.


Personal life

On 20 December 2000, Roshan married Sussanne Khan in a private ceremony in Bangalore. Despite their religious difference—Roshan is a
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
and Khan is a
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
—Roshan says that he equally valued her beliefs. The couple has two sons, Hrehaan (born in 2006) and Hridhaan (born in 2008). Roshan and Sussanne separated in December 2013 and their divorce was finalised in November 2014. Both maintained that they parted amicably. In 2016 Roshan had filed a lawsuit against ''Krrish 3'' co-star Kangana Ranaut for cyber stalking and harassment. Denying the charges, Ranaut filed a counter-charge claiming that his lawsuit was an attempt to cover up an affair. Owing to a lack of evidence, the Mumbai Police closed the case later that year. As of 2022, Roshan is dating actress Saba Azad. Roshan had considered quitting the film industry after two assailants fired bullets at his father in 2000. Later that December, he was involved in a controversy when Nepalese newspapers and Jamim Shah's Channel Nepal accused him of stating in a Star Plus interview that he hated Nepal and its people. This led to protests in the country, a ban on screening of his films, and four people's deaths after street violence. Nepalese people threatened to "bury imalive" if he ever visited the country. Star Plus, for its part, stated that Roshan "did not touch upon Nepal." The violence calmed down after Roshan wrote a two-page rejoinder in which he denied having made any claim against the country. Nepali actress
Manisha Koirala Manisha Koirala (; born 16 August 1970) is a Nepali people, Nepalese actress who works in Cinema of India, Indian films, predominantly in Hindi and Tamil language, Tamil. Born to the politically prominent Koirala family, she is the daughter of ...
helped distribute it to newspapers and a local television station.


Artistry and media image

As the son of the filmmaker Rakesh, Roshan faced the media spotlight from a young age. Discussing
nepotism Nepotism is the act of granting an In-group favoritism, advantage, privilege, or position to Kinship, relatives in an occupation or field. These fields can include business, politics, academia, entertainment, sports, religion or health care. In ...
in Bollywood, Shama Rana views him as one of several actors who managed film careers with the help of family relations in the industry. On the other hand, Roshan is acknowledged in the media for his devotion to his work and for his ability to commit heavily to each role. He insists on learning any necessary skills and performing stunts himself, and is particularly known for his professionalism. The director Ashutosh Gowariker praised Roshan when he continued filming ''Mohenjo Daro'' despite several injuries and being in a troubled state of mind. Zoya Akhtar, who considers Roshan her favourite actor, and directed him in ''Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'', remarks on his ability to display a range of emotions on screen. In an attempt to avoid
typecasting In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...
, Roshan takes on diverse parts. He looks at the scripts as a platform to inspire with the strength and courage of his characters and to make his audiences smile. Roshan was noted by critics for his versatility in portraying a variety of characters in ''Koi... Mil Gaya'' (2003), ''Lakshya'' (2004), ''Jodhaa Akbar'' (2008), and ''Guzaarish'' (2010). Box Office India ranked him first on its top actors listing in 2000 and later included him in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Roshan topped Rediff.com's list of best Bollywood actors in 2003, and was ranked fourth in 2006. ''Filmfare'' magazine included two of his performances—from ''Koi... Mil Gaya'' and ''Lakshya''—on its 2010 list of 80 Iconic Performances. In March 2011, Roshan placed fourth on Rediff.com's list of Top 10 Actors of 2000–2010. Roshan's dancing ability has drawn praise from the media, an opinion he disagrees with. The ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' finds him to be "a sensational dancer" who "has the dashing, chiseled looks of a silent movie matinee idol." Although author Nandana Bose attributed Roshan's popularity to Bollywood's preoccupation with traditional hypermasculinity, she wrote that he sets himself apart by showcasing dancing talent and "transnational, transfigurative corporeality". According to Bose, Roshan's stardom is marked by his ability to seamlessly transition between roles, from dancing star to credible superhero, shaping the industry's landscape. Some critics believe that he is only able to dance and act in his father's films. Sanya Panwar of ''
Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English language, English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media Limited, an entity controlled by the Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia, the daughter o ...
'' criticised his inclination towards "glamorous, albeit empty" and stereotypical parts. Roshan has established himself as a sex symbol and a style icon in India. In 2006, Roshan was one of the four Bollywood actors, along with Priyanka Chopra, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan, whose miniature dolls were launched in the United Kingdom, under the name of "Bollywood Legends". He topped ''The Times of India'' listing of 50 Most Desirable Men in 2010 and ranked among the top five for the next five years. In 2010 and 2012, the Indian edition of '' GQ'' included him in their listing of Bollywood's best dressed men. A life-size, wax figure of him was installed at London's Madame Tussauds museum in January 2011, making him the fifth Indian actor to have been replicated as a wax statue there. Versions of the statue were installed at Madame Tussauds' museums in New York, Washington and other cities in the world. Roshan regularly features in the magazine '' Eastern Eye'' listing of the 50 Sexiest Asian Men. He topped the list in 2011, 2012 and 2014, and featured among the top five in 2010, 2013 and 2015 to 2018. Roshan is among Bollywood's highest-paid actors. Discussing his success ratio at the box office in a 2014 article, '' Daily News and Analysis'' credited him as "the most bankable star" in Bollywood. He was named the second most powerful Indian film star by ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'' in 2001. He ranked fourth in ''Filmfare'' Power List in 2007. In a 2009 poll conducted by ''Daily News and Analysis'' Roshan was voted one of India's most popular icons. At the 2009 FICCI-IIFA Awards, Roshan was one of the ten recipients of the most powerful Bollywood entertainers of the 2000s. From 2012 to 2019, Roshan was placed on '' Forbes India'' Celebrity 100—a list based on the income and popularity of Indian celebrities—peaking at ninth position in 2014 with an annual income of .


Accolades

Roshan has received six
Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
out of eighteen nominations: Best Actor for ''Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'', ''Koi... Mil Gaya'', ''Dhoom 2'' and ''Jodhaa Akbar'', Best Actor – Critics for ''Koi... Mil Gaya'' and Best Male Debut for ''Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai''.


References


Literary sources

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External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Roshan, Hrithik 1974 births 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Dancers from Maharashtra Filmfare Awards winners Screen Awards winners Indian male dancers Indian male film actors Living people Male actors from Mumbai Male actors in Hindi cinema Popping dancers People of Punjabi descent Bengali people Zee Cine Awards winners International Indian Film Academy Awards winners Indian male child actors People with polydactyly