Source: RP
"I feel wonderful and absolutely on top of the world"
Hrithik's magic has worked all over again. The Roshan boy has bounced back with 'Koi... Mil Gaya'. And how! Winning the masses and critics alike, the actor is all set to sweep all the awards this year. Here's tracking his journey...
How's the mood after the success of 'Koi Mil Gaya'?
I am satisfied and relieved. The film has just crossed the 100 days mark. All the hard work, experimentation and risks have paid off. I am glad that the audiences accepted me in the role, which is by no stretch of imagination a regular hero role. This has confirmed my belief that cinemagoers appreciate a good film irrespective of the fact that the story is offbeat.
What would you credit the success of 'Koi Mil Gaya' to?
I believe that the audience is always right. I keep it very simple in my mind - films fail if they are not good films - and good films always run. So I guess, the audience appreciated all our efforts in making a good film, right from the music to the performances to the fact that someone was trying to make a breakthrough into a new genre of film-making. Koi... Mil Gaya was a good film so it had to be a success. I feel, its success has also opened a door for our filmmakers to experiment with newer and unexplored subjects. It has proved that if you do your work well and with all sincerity, the audience will approve of it. I have always held the audience in high esteem and this time their verdict has been overwhelming.
After 'Mission Kashmir', it took a long time for you to team-up with Priety Zinta?
I know that our pairing in 'Mission Kashmir' was well received and people expected us to appear in more films together. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we weren't able to do so till now. She's a sparkling actress and her presence has added another dimension to both 'Koi... Mil Gaya' and 'Lakshya'.
What kind of a person is Hrithik Roshan in real life?
At times, I am very spontaneous and often get carried away by the dictates of the heart. However, I do know that reality is very different from the world of make-believe and realise that there is the need to be practical as well.
Would you say that you have been greatly influenced by your father, Rakesh Roshan?
I have learnt a lot from my father's films while assisting him during 'Kishen Kanhaiya', 'Koyla', 'King Uncle' and 'Karan Arjun'. Subconsciously, I am driven by what I have learnt from him - hard work, honesty, dedication and the fact that ups and downs are a part of life. But, at the end of the day, I let my own instincts guide me.
Do you feel that it is only your father who has the ability to draw the best out of you?
(Smiles) Who understands a son better than his father? My father will always put a little extra love and a little extra care while making a film for me and vice-versa. I think working with him for six years as an assistant has given me a good understanding of his style. Now, even if he places the camera in a certain way, I know what he's looking for. So the magic works as the actor and the director are completely in sync. However, I have been blessed in the sense that till now I have worked with several top directors and all of them, through their efforts, have contributed to my growth as an actor.
Did success ever turn your head?
Frankly I haven't had the time to let success turn my head. The last few years have gone like a flash.
What kept you going during your rough phase?
There's an old English saying that the finest of steel has to go through the hottest of fire. This saying has been the motto of my life. So whenever the fire got hotter, I kept fighting because I knew, I'd come out a finer human being. Now that I am through all that fire, I feel wonderful and absolutely on top of the world.
Going by press reports, you really seem to be enjoying playing a true-blue soldier in 'Lakshya'?
I'm well and truly enjoying wearing the uniform because the role is close to my heart. It's the story of a young man who is dubbed as a waster. But when he gets an opportunity, his whole personality transforms. Our soldiers are heroes in the truest sense of the word. They selflessly guard our borders with their lives. I wanted to depict the role of an army man as authentically as possible and hence decided to sport a crew cut. Farhan Akhtar is a wonderful director. Working well within the bounds of commercial cinema, he has made several sensitive reflections concerning the Kashmir issue with 'Lakshya'. I'm sure of the fact that the audience is going to love and appreciate the film. The film is still in the making and I am not in a position to reveal anything more. I am shooting in Delhi for 'Lakshya' till December. Then, I seriously plan to take a break and go for a holiday, I haven't taken a single holiday in the last five years. It's been non-stop work. Now I want to re-charge my batteries. And maybe I'll even learn a skill or two by going for tap-dancing or playing the guitar which I've really wanted to learn but never had the time.