GIIS Leadership Lecture Series scaled a majestic peak on September 21, 2013 with award-winning film actor Hrithik Roshan's visit to GIIS Queenstown Campus accompanied by acclaimed director and producer, Rakesh Roshan. Their visit set an unprecedented record with thousands of students and parents from GIIS campuses in Malaysia and Japan as well as India, including Noida, Bangalore, Indore, Surat and Chinchwad watching the extraordinary event live through a video conference and simultaneous webcast.
Mr Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan were received by GIIS fraternity with a rousing welcome comprising of a Lion Dance, signifying good luck and fortune. Amidst loud cheers, Hrithik reached out to greet GIIS students dressed in black capes, in favour of soon-to-be released movie, Krrish 3, smiling and acknowledging the cheers of welcome. Accompanied by Mr Atul Temurnikar, Co-Founder and Chairman, GSF, Mr Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
In order to mark the UN International Day of Peace, Mr Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan joined GIIS students to create the 'Largest Display of Origami Doves for Peace' which entered the Singapore Book of Records. He read a pledge and signed a message accompanied by Mr Rakesh Roshan on the display board.
Their grand entrance to the auditorium set many a dreams flying as student emcees welcomed the very special guests. The event began with 6-year old dancing queen Sunishka Sriram of GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore. Carrying the celebratory mood further, students of GIIS East Coast and GIIS Queenstown Campuses presented scintillating performances to popular dance tracks from Hrithik's movies.
Following the performances, Mr Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan were invited on stage with Mr Temurnikar. The stage proceedings began with Mr Ong Eng Huat, President of the Singapore Book of Records presenting the official certificate to Mr Temurnikar.
Addressing GIIS students, Mr Rakesh Roshan said, “Thank you so much for your love and the affection you have showered upon us today. It is a memorable moment for me and my son. I am happy to tell you one thing - that Krrish belongs to you because Krrish was born in Singapore. I thank you once again for your affection.” Mr Roshan received a resounding applause for his short but encouraging address.
The emcee invited Hrithik to address the students with roars of approval from the audience.
Hrithik ?ddressed students listening in rapt attention across Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and India. “Thank you much, you have no idea what this means to me. I just want to say that you guys are the future of the world. The one thing that will make you great in your life, beyond money, beyond strength, beyond anything else is your character. Know who you are. Walk you paths, know your truths. Character, is what will make you great in your life! Remember, that status in the world is not defined by what work you do but by how well you do it. It does not matter what you do. Whatever you do, you do it great. And that will show your character to the people around you. Be givers in life, do not wait for people to show you love, give love first. Be contributors in life and whatever you want in life will come to you automatically. Give first. Krrish has been a long journey and I am really happy that it took so long, right from its inception stage from Koi Mil Gaya to Krrish and now Krrish 3 because it has taught me a lot of things in life. It has taught me that a superhero is not about a jacket or a cape or the powers. A superhero is anyone of us. What does a superhero do? He uses all his powers to help others, to contribute to others, to be in service to the world - that is what defines a superhero. Any one of us can be a superhero. Make a superhero a symbol, because a symbol is stronger than any individual, any actor. It stands for a certain set of values. If you understand those values and you imbibe them, who is going to stop you from being a superhero in your life.
I learnt from the characters I played - whether it is Akbar or another character, I try and look for what I do not have. I try and imbibe and I try and grow with that. With Krrish I have learnt certain values. Those values I carry with me on my wrist as a symbol of Krrish and that stays with me. When I wear this and the jacket, I feel like Krrish, I feel unstoppable. It is a mental decision that any of us can take. Whenever you are undecided in life, when it is time to take a decision, take three seconds, and then you ask the right questions and you will get the right answers. Thank you all for such a warm welcome. I specially want to say thank you to the wonderful team of dancers, specially the little angel who kept looking at me as if to say, “You see that is how it is done”. I wish my kids were here to witness that and all the other artists who have been on stage, how wonderful it was. If I have contributed to inspiring them then I feel proud today that I can inspire something like this. So thank you to allthe dancers and all of you. I love you so much. Thank you.”
A reverberating applause lit up the auditorium in honour of Hrithik whose humble demeanour touched GIIS students deeply across all campuses. Both, Mr Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan answered questions from GIIS students present in the audience, as well as those from GIIS campuses in Japan, Malaysia, and India through video conference.
The visit sparked encouragement in young leaders across GIIS campuses in Asia Pacific to develop qualities of courage, character and strength, values that will motivate GIIS students throughout in their careers.
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Q1 Devanshi Patnaik - (GIIS East Coast Campus Singapore) My question is to Mr Rakeshji. We know every child has huge levels of curiosity. How do you see courage play a role in every child's success?
Mr Rakesh Roshan: Courage gives you a lot of confidence and confidence gives you success but where from does courage come? Courage comes from honesty to be true to yourself and to love everybody. So you gather courage and you will have confidence then you success. Success will follow you.
Q2 Devstutya Pandey - (GIIS Balestier Campus, Singapore) My question is to Mr Hrithik. Sir, you are very busy 7 days a week with your shooting schedules, how do you get time for family and kids? And do you get any time to help your children with homework and if so, then which subject do you love teaching?
Hrithik Roshan: How sweet you are! What is your name? I love the question you asked!! You can never find time, for anything in your life if you are looking for time it's never to be found you have to create time, one has to create it. According to me true success in life is when you can manage your time properly. Time management is what true success is all about. When a man has the time to do all the things his duties varieties of work and fun and whatever it may be. When you have the time to do every single thing you want to do in life and you would be able to do it that's the day when you will be successful. So you have to create the time. How do I create the time? Like that (with a snap). My favourite subject to teach my kids...Well we live in India, aur Hindi hamari matrubhasha hain but fortunately or unfortunately everybody around us communicates in English as it's the universal language and I am proud of that as well so when I sit with my children main sirf hindi mein baat karta hoon
Q3 Ananya Balaji - (GIIS Kuala Lumpur Campus, Malaysia) Greetings on behalf your thousands of fans in Malaysia. Sir we are thrilled to interact with you via LIVE video conference. In fact we feel we are right there in front of you. My question is to Rakesh Sir. As a father, what good qualities do you see in Hrithik which made him a star?
Mr Rakesh Roshan: Not just because he is my son, I am saying this but I see he is a very honest boy and his honesty shows on his face and he is very lovable. He distributes love like sweets to everybody and so he gets abundance of love in return. So these are his qualities and whatever work he does he does it with full power, with full confidence and being true to himself he does all the work. So these are the qualities which I see in him.
Q 4 Khushi Verma - (GIIS Noida/Delhi Campus, India) Good afternoon, Sirs. A very big hello from all of us in Delhi/Noida. My question is for Hrithik Sir. What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most? Acting or Dancing?
Hrithik Roshan: Well first of all a hello to you. Sometimes when I am acting sometimes acting gets very difficult, you have a difficult scene you have to emote or you have to entertain, it’s a very long scene and you’re really tired etc. Sometimes when I am dancing, the dance steps are so intricate and the choreographer is a tough task master and he wants the best out of you. Sometimes that gets difficult sometimes acting gets difficult. What I enjoy most is when it gets difficult whether it’s dancing or acting. When it gets difficult, I know, this is my axis point to growth. If I can surpass this, then I will become a better man, a wiser man, a stronger man because it’s as they say, the motto that I live by goes like this that the finest steel must go through the hottest fire. So whenever something gets difficult I start enjoying myself. I look up and say alright you want me to play at this level now? You know how you play video game from Level 1 to level 9 when you play at 9 you are a good player , So when He makes me play at level 10, I say “man I must be a good player I might have played my best so bring it on...give me some more...
Q 5 Oorjit - (GIIS Bangalore Campus, India) Good afternoon, Sirs. My question is to Hrithik Sir. What did you hate most in your school days? Any particular subject?
Hrithik Roshan: You have asked me a very naughty question. Time to confess...we all have our favourite subjects I also had a subject...it's not that I hated it I did not quiet enjoyed as much...not Maths any guesses? It was History! And you know all the days to memorise, I was like how is that going to help me, but it does I think any single thing in your life what you do, what you learn somewhere will definitely help you in some point of your life. I thought it was more important to create history in my own life rather than learn about someone else's life.
Q 6 Smit Wargantiwar - (GIIS Queenstown Campus, Singapore) Good afternoon, Sirs. We have the Formula 1 race tomorrow. Do you have any F1 favourite racer and would you show any F1 cars in your next movie?
Hrithik Roshan: You know I have never seen an F1 race. I am so happy to be here at this time I am enjoying being with you all. This is the benefit of being in Singapore there is so much variety all the time you come to get 10 things you end up getting 12 or 15 things. But yes, if I get a chance to play a character where I am a race car driver I would like it. I will keep your idea in mind in future.