Pursuing a sensibility, the Hrithik way

Source: Aditi Tandon, Tribune News Service

Spurious attractions of Hollywood don’t amuse Hrithik Roshan a bit. Our superstar would rather be home in Mumbai, which for him is “as West as West can get”.



“Mumbai is home. It has a great character, but your city is equally charming. It gives me a sense of freedom. I am breathing a lot easier here,” said Hrithik, who was in the city to endorse Tommy Hilfiger range which Hrithik has been unconsciously promoting since “Kaho Na Pyar Hai” days.



Sartorial elegance apart, Hrithik commands attention for many other reasons. To begin with, he strikes a humble conversation, neither making tall claims about his future nor gloating in the triumphs of his past.



“I am an aspiring actor,” submits Hrithik, leading us towards his strengths and weaknesses.



Though born into cinema, Hrithik admits he had to labour a lot before he could qualify as an actor. Little wonder Rakesh Roshan took long before launching him in “Kaho Na Pyar Hai”, the film which continues to be an eternal point of reference for the Roshan family which had been through a dark phase before re-emerging with the success of this film.



Naturally for Hrithik, the film was more than a launching pad. “It was a litmus test of my commitment towards acting and also my father, the finest director I have ever known. Though I put in my best for each films I ever did, I must admit I strained myself the most in “Koi Mil Gaya”. Since it was a film close to my father’s heart, I didn’t want to take chances. Every night when I used to hit the bed, I could feel the exhaustion.”



Hrithik says he never makes conscious attempts to excel on screen. “I would rather be what I am, drawing from my experiences. Life has taught me immensely, but there’s a lot left to learn. I can’t list my weaknesses for you. It would be futile to identify them. All I can say is I can improve,” says the actor whose greatest inspiration lies in his father’s experiences and ideals. From Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik has imbibed the qualities of humility as also cinematic excellence.



So smitten is he by his father’s charms, that he takes long before listing the film he likes best. “Kaho Na Pyar Hai” is very dear to me. It was a difficult film for my father because it required him to cater to a generation he didn’t belong to. But he did it with style. He was also open to advice, no matter how nonsensical it was.”



Hrithik hasn’t planned his future but he mentions his association with Farhan Akhtar in “Lakshya” as enriching. “Farhan has his own narrative.



“There is a dearth of script writers in Bollywood. I share the blame for this rot. Though I always loved the idea of being well-read, I never really read as a youngster. Otherwise I could have drawn so much from history and mythology, says the hunk, who is seriously reading these days.

It's Hrithik Roshan

Souce: Nikita Singh

Raj, Rohan, Rohit... he is all three and yet he isn't the same. Each character is different, and none of them show the real him.





A director's delight, he exudes the passion that burns up the screen every time he steps into the frame. Politically correct, armed with all the right answers, polite to a fault, Hrithik Roshan, your man in flicks like Kaho Na Pyar Hai, Fiza, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham, Koi Mil Gaya, Lakshyae ...is the nicest guy you can come across! Not just that, his prowess as an actor manages to leave most people in a lurch. Will the real Hrithik Roshan please stand up?



It's our lucky day, because he graciously does. For what seems to have earned him the reputation of being an enigma, is actually his blatant honesty. Chandigarh Times presents the person behind the actor...





Passion is the key... I'm very passionate about everything that I set out to do. Acting or dancing, I just become zealously involved with the project at hand. It is that passion that shows through on screen. And what audiences appreciate in the end.





Honesty is still the best policy... Acting is all about honesty and if you can fake that you've got it made. (Laughs) I'm kidding. But I have to admit that I'm blatantly honest.



It gets me into big trouble all the time. That isn't the least bit funny. It's tormenting, adds to my dilemma. I'm constantly struggling with two sides of me -whether I should listen to the be-honest me or take care not to hurt the feelings of the other person.



Lessons well learnt... I'm growing up now, starting to learn how things work. It actually stems from the expectations that people come to have of us. Because we're in the limelight, we are supposed to behave in a particular manner. And that doesn't always work. What I rely on is the vibe that I get from people. Sometimes you just want to be senselessly nice to someone because of the positive vibes you get from them. I firmly believe that the person you are will always come through.



We're human too... We can't always have a smile to offer a fan. We're human beings too, with the usual mood swings. There are times when we're really low; pretending to be happy would be dishonest. That's how misconceptions about actors spread; we are thought of to be snobbish, rude, and maybe even impolite. People will always have their own opinions and I don't have any complaints. Just one request to them: please give us the benefit of the doubt.



Here I am, this is me... I have a certain amount of ambition – not to become the greatest actor or the happiest, just be better than the man standing next to me. What matters to me more than happiness is the pursuit of it. The process is what needs to be enjoyed because whatever the end result, the sky will not fall and the earth won't cave in. Things will always carry on. One just needs to strive to do their best.