Hrithik Roshan / Image- Instagram

Early start

Did you know Hrithik Roshan’s nickname Duggu is rearrangement of his dad’s nickname Guddu? Clearly his grandmother, who named him wanted him to be just like his dad. But the boy was made for greater things. He superseded everything his dad achieved as an actor very early perhaps because he had his dad guiding him.

But did you know that Kaho Na Pyar Hai wasn’t his first turn as an actor? Way back in 1980, his maternal grandfather J Om Prakash, made him act, it was for a scene with his father’s best friend Jeetendra. The little dance jig that Hrithik did earned him a whooping INR 100. It was that early that the fates decided Hrithik will make his grandparents shine. Hardly a surprise then that the family has chosen to take their father, Roshan’s name forward instead of their official surname Nagrath. The little change has made the stars follow.

Humble beginnings

Given his father’s career as a director had seen many ups and downs initially. Hrithik had long since known that he won’t be able to compromise with hard work. It is known to many that Hrithik started off as an assistant to his father on the sets of Karan Arjun and Koyla. Both the films had very celebrated stars but many of them didn’t even know that Rakesh Roshan’s son was on the sets of their film. That is because Hrithik didn’t vie for attention. 

Just because he was Rakesh Roshan’s son didn’t mean he got any special treatment. While he was assisting his dad he would not only sweep the floors on sets but also serve tea to the crew. But that was not the only thing he was doing he was also observing the very best in the industry and trying his best to act like them. And study from them. He used to spend hours in front of the mirror trying to redo scenes that Shah Rukh Khan did for his father’s film Koyla.

Making history

Indian cinema had not seen such a humongous hit by a newcomer ever before Kaho Na Pyar Hai and Hrithik Roshan happened. Everyone has termed it the perfect launch vehicle and rightfully so because never had there been an actor more successfully launched. 

However did you know that back when the film released Hrithik received more than 30,000 proposals on Valentine’s day from his fans, that’s the kind of charm he unleashed with his first film itself. The film’s figures were staggering to say the least, in totality, the film received 102 awards in all. It is no surprise then that it made it to the Limca Book of Records that year for winning the highest number of awards in the movie industry.

Family is bae

The success, the proposals nothing mattered to Hrithik he was all set to quit movies before his career even started, in 2001, there was a deadly attack on Rakesh Roshan, the actor revealed that when his father got shot by two assailants and was close to death for a while, be decided to give it all up and say goodbye to acting. 

He said, “On that day, I just couldn’t help but feel I was losing faith in hard work and goodness in the world… I wanted to quit even before things began for me. The love and support from fans and industry friends changed his mind. In the hospital when you came, and I saw your faces, and in your own special way, you made me feel that I was not alone, that I’ll never be alone. It makes me se proud to say that I’m a part of this industry and this is platform to thank all of you for your overwhelming love and support when we needed it the most’, said the actor.

Beating insecurities

Hrithik is one of our fearless actors who hardly seeks body doubles for his stunts. He is known to give his best without any trepidations however, the actor has his own fears which has taken him years to overcome. 

As a child, Hrithik used to stammer. Even when he became an A-list star his greatest fear was meeting and greeting his fans especially children. He would fear that they would laugh at him and the trauma he suffered as a child would surface again. 

But Hrithik defeated this handicap with the only way he knew how. He worked hard on himself. He is the only actor whose rehearsals are more tedious than his films takes because he believes in nothing but working on himself.

Challenged fate

Everyone is a fan of Hrithik Roshan’s dancing skills, but this super stardom almost didn’t happen, at the age of 21, he was diagnosed with scoliosis and was told that he would never be able to dance. He was also told that he would never be able to do all the things a Bollywood hero was required to do. But our man can write a book on how he changed his destiny-time and over again.

Bloodless Life has not always been a bed of roses for Hrithik and his family, having seen so many failures as a youngster might have prepared Hrithik for the worst but nothing prepared him for what was in store for his marriage. In 2014, after 10 years of marriage Sussanne decided to part ways with her childhood sweetheart. Never did either one of them malign the other. It was in many ways the most civilised breakups in the history of Bollywood. Through the lockdown years after their separation, the two moved back together sparking remarriage rumors but was only for their children that they were staying together momentarily. Given the pandemic they had to decide spaying under one roof so that both parents could have time with their children. 

Not humouring rumours

When someone decides to go hammer and tongs at you and your family’s reputation, filmstars have been known to pull out the big guns but Hrithik on the other hand has always decided that its too much of a trouble to give rumours the dignity of a response. He has always let time do its work. 

When Kangana Ranaut dragged his name on every media platform possible the actor kept his silence for a year and half. It was only when things got out of hand did he release this statement “I choose to be on a path of creativity, productivity and constructive work. Anything that isn’t in alignment with that, I tend to ignore, sidestep and treat as a distraction. I believe that ignorance, non reaction and staying on the path of dignity is the best way to discourage any persistent unwanted intrusions. But just like a nagging health issue sometimes when ignored can turn malignant, this situation for me has unfortunately turned malignant. In case of the matter at hand, it seems the media has no intention of letting go. I don’t see any grace in adding to this circus by testifying in defense of my character in a situation that I have no involvement in whatsoever. I have been dragged into a dirty perverse mess without a choice in the matter. This is something that is not of my making. The truth is, I have never met the lady in question one on one in my entire life. Yes, we have worked together, but there has been no meeting in private. That’s the truth…” That’s Hrithik for you-charming, civilized and cultured.