Source: Filmfare July 2003
By: Meena Iyer
Hrithik Roshan on matters of the Heart
1) Does the kind of undying love that Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon celebrates actually exist in this day and age?
According to me, love is not a tainted word. I truly believe in the concept of undying love. Skeptics may argue that the 21st century has changed values and ideals, but I know that if you find the right partner, love is forever.
2) If Steven Speilberg asked you to on the next plane to Los Angeles and you were committed to a movie with Sooraj Barjatya here, would you?
Not in 10 lifetimes. I would give up a Steven Spielberg film if Sooraj Barjatya asked me for the same dates as Spielberg.
3) What’s your state of mind today?
I’m happy – I’m still doing the best films. I’m enjoying my work. It gives me a terrific high. I guess it’s never to judge life by this measure than go by hits and flops.
4) Who is your craziest fan?
I have lots of them; some of them astound me. Just last week, I met this teenager in Dehra Dun while shooting for Lakshya and when she came face to face with me, she started crying uncontrollably. She was shivering from head to toe when she shook hands with me and continued to sob for about 10 minutes. I was so moved, I couldn’t speak either. I felt I owed her something for those tears that she’d shed. Her faith in me as an actor moved me.
I can’t get over this kind of thing. It’s flattering but it’s also unnerving.
On the lighter side, on my way here for this interview, I had some kids screaming from an auto rickshaw saying, “Mummy, Hrithik! Look, Mummy, Hrithik!” But when I turned to wave to them, I saw no Mummy in the rickshaw. I guess they were so excited they didn’t know what they were saying.
5) What was your pet name in school?
Duggu. Yeah, D-u-g-g-u!
6) Is there a memorable phone call you’d like to tell us about?
There isn’t just one, there are several. Because, when I’m going through my fan mail, if I find a particularly moving or sweet letter, I check to see if there’s a telephone number somewhere. If there is, I just call and speak to the person who has written the letter.
And you should hear the reactions. Sometimes I wake up sleeping fans and give them a real shock. At the star, they find it difficult to believe it’s really me and not someone playing a prank. But when I read out an excerpt from their letter, they know I’m for real. And then there’s a storm in the house. I can hear screaming, shouting, agitated voices all coming to me together. And the experience leaves me so humbled.
It’s also very exciting because it psyches me to know that I can give someone such a high.
7) Which is your favorite song?
Stand by me by Benny King. That song is about Suzanne and me; it’s very special to both of us, actually.
8) Can you tell us three unknown facts about Suzanne?
Unknown, did you say? I don’t think Suzanne would like me sharing those with anyone. So let’s just skip it, please!
9) Do you have a recurring dream?
Yes, I’ve dreamt hundreds of times that I have wings and I’m about to fly.
10) When was the last time you spoilt Suzanne silly?
To be honest, I haven't done anything special for my wife in a long, long time. I owe her a lot. Most of the time, she ends up spoiling me. Besides picking up gifts for me, Suzanne is constantly doing things that liven up my day in some way or the other.
She's always giving me little surprises. One day when I returned from work I found her hiding behind our bedroom door. There I was completely stressed and in a foul mood and here was my wife hiding behind the door! For God's sake! And then she pounced on me and scared the living daylights out of me. In two seconds I'd forgotten all my anger and stress. The whole mood changed.
11) If you could change one thing about your body, what would it be?
My physique is all wrong. I’d like to change everything about my looks.
12) Could you go through an entire day without looking in the mirror?
Of course I can. Just because one is an actor, one doesn’t have to be self-conscious. It’s not a pre-requisite for an actor to be obsesses about his looks. I know there are people who don’t look in the mirror at all and I’m getting there. I’m tired of constantly having to check myself out.
13) What’s your idea of a perfect vacation?
I want to go on a holiday where there’s no work stress, just no mention of work. That is something I have not had in the last 3 years and I’m longing to take a vacation where I can just CHILL.
14) Are you a good liar?
No, I’m a lousy one. I can’t act in my normal life.
15) What was your first kiss like?
Uhhh. Embarrassing.
16) Which is the movie you’ve seen most often?
Superman with Christopher Reeves. I just love the film.
17) What won’t you joke about?
Physical handicaps. I won’t joke about them in personal life or in my movies.
18) How do you dance?
With a lot of effort. The world may think I’m a great dancer but I know how rehearsed I am.
19) Where is the best place to be?
Close to someone.
20) Which is the best meal you’ve had?
It was an Italian food joint in Mauritius during the last schedule of Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. For the life of me, I can’t remember the name of the restaurant but the food was so good, I went crazy.
21) Which was your worst haircut?
Let’s put it this way – I’ve never had a decent haircut except the short one I’m sporting right now for Lakshya.
22) What’s your greatest fear?
Quite often I feel that there is no God. War, natural calamities, handicaps, suffering…when I see al this, I fee there’s no God. And the thought scares me shitless.
23) Can you describe Kareena Kapoor in three words?
A fine artiste.
24) If Britney Spears asked you out on a date what would you do?
I’d introduce her politely to my wife.
25) What are you terrified of being remembered for?
I’m terribly embarrassed when I remember myself as a child artiste. As opposed to me now, I think I was quite awkward in films like Bhagwan Dada.
26) Which website do you visit most often?
I haven’t been on the Net for close to three years now.
27) What keeps you going in a crisis?
My survival instinct.
28) Who, according to you, is the sexiest woman on earth?
Kylie Minogue… but I’m only taking her name because I don’t want to sound clichéd. Actually I think it’s my wife.
29) Which is your favorite corner in the house?
I could get very mushy with this one but I’m not telling.
30) Are you religious?
I’m not religious. I don’t visit temples. But I hope there is a superpower. Otherwise everything seems so meaningless. Everything makes sense to me right now because I feel someone above put it there for a reason.
31) Were we made this way or did we become this way?
I think we’re made to become this way.
32) When was the last time you cried?
This morning when I was dubbing for a weepy scene in Koi Mil Gaya.
33) When was the last time you laughed uncontrollably?
Again this morning, when I was watching a really funny scene from Koi Mil Gaya. I just cracked up.
34) What colour is Monday?
Bright orange. I don’t suffer from those infamous Monday morning blues because I’m invariably working through the week. Sunday is never a chutti for me.
35) If you had to describe yourself in one sentence what would you say?
I’m an…I don’t know where to begin.
36) What are your views on pornography?
Of course I’m curious about porn. It exists because there is a market for it. It needs to exist but it should be properly channelised. It shouldn’t be accessible to everyone.
37) Is it uncool to be caught with your pants down?
Of course, it’s uncool to be caught with your pants down. It’s disgusting and very unintelligent.
38) If you weren’t an actor what would you be?
I’d open a gymnasium and be the in-house instructor. Everyone knows by now that I’m a fitness freak.
39) When did you last feel utterly insignificant?
I feel like that constantly. Actually, that’s an exaggeration but I do feel so insignificant at least once or twice a day.
40) What’s the last piece of gossip you heard about yourself?
I can’t really remember but I know I laughed loudly when I read it. It wasn’t even about an affair I was supposed to be having. It was even more absurd….it was the ‘news’ that I’d done a guest appearance in Honey Irani’s Armaan. Pray, why would I?