Source: Rediff
Date: May 8, 2002
Will Na Tum Jaano Na Hum turn in his favour? His first film, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, propelled him to instant stardom. His last film, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (AMALL) was a debacle at the BO. Hrithik Roshan failed to recreate the same magic with his Kaho Naa... costar Amisha Patel, in their second film together. After working with biggies like [father] Rakesh Roshan, Karan Johar and Vikram Bhatt, Hrithik now prepares for his latest film, Arjun Sablok's Na Tum Jaano Na Hum. The film releases Friday, May 10. Sablok, who was earlier filmmaker Yash Chopra's assistant, roped in Esha Deol and Saif Ali Khan for his debut venture. A lot rides on this film. And Hrithik well realises it, finds Bharati Dubey:
Na Tum Jaano Na Hum is a crucial release for you, isn't it?
Every film is crucial for an actor. I am not nervous, just little anxious and curious to know how the audience reacts to my next film.
Don't you think a back-to-back release of two films is detrimental for an actor?
I agree. I am probably to be blamed for that. I did not foresee the delay of Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage. I distributed my dates equally to both the films, as a result of which both were completed at the same time. I should have done one film at a time. But I am wiser now. As they say you learn from your own mistakes.
What went wrong with AMALL?
The film got what it deserved at the box office. But it is heartening to hear that people have liked my work. As far as I am concerned I gave my 100 per cent to the film. Maybe I should have put in 300 per cent. That is how I look at it --- I worked hard but not hard enough. I am not making any excuses. I am to be equally blamed for its failure. But I can say one thing --- I have not failed as an actor. If you say an actor's job is to act, I did my bit. As long as people agree with that it doesn't break my confidence.
Even the promos of the film were not appealing...
That may be true. I am not the best judge of that. There are so many reasons for a film's failure. The bottomline is a film gets what it deserves.
What do you have to say about reports stating you should be doing multistarrers?
The media will write what it wants to write. The question is, did I act well in the film? Did I let the film down or did the film let me down? I could say a lot of things, too [in retaliation]. I think I was good in the film. The film failed at the box office. It happens.
Was working with a debutant Arjun Sablok, who is also an actor, planned?
No, there was no strategy. Though I have never thought of him as an actor, he did make my job easier because being an actor himself, he can relate better. As for signing the film, I just reacted to the script. I heard the script and by the time I got to the last scene, I had tears in my eyes. I told Arjun I want to be a part of this film. I just react to a story. I don't go about thinking whether or not it will work after a year.
What are your views on Esha Deol as a performer?
She will shock a lot of people in the industry --- pleasantly. She has done a fantastic job. I haven't seen her first film Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, so I don't know how good she was. But she is absolutely fantastic in Na Tum... I think she has grown as an actress in terms of experience. In the first schedule, I would help her out, even with her dance. But I soon realised that she was doing better than me! There was this dance sequence we performed together. My mother [Pinky Roshan, wife of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan] saw the rushes. When I asked her about my performance, she said she hadn't looked at me at all! She just kept watching Esha.
After Kaho Naa... there have been a lot of expectations from you. Does that work to your disadvantage?
I call it a challenge. I need to turn the tide in my favour. In Kaho Naa... my challenge was to make a mark. I did it. After Kaho Naa... my challenge is higher. People expect me to create the same kind of magic again. So I have to find a way to make my mark again.