Happy Birthday Hrithik Roshan – The Greek God of Indian Cinema remains destiny’s favourite child

Having made his career debut on January 14, 2000 with ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’ directed by his father Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik never had it easy. Though the double role in ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’ catapulted him to instant success and his subsequent releases in ‘Fiza’ and ‘Mission Kashmir’ earned him rave reviews for his acting repertoire, other releases including ‘Yaadein’, ‘Aap Mujhe Achchhe Lagne Lagey’ and ‘Main Prem Ki Deewaani Hoon’ among others didn’t do him any good.

Newer actors entering the industry thwarted his place of supremacy in the industry.

But this couldn’t stop Hrithik getting married to the love of his life. Hrithik married Sussanne Khan whom he had known since the age of twelve. They courted for four years before taking the big leap and had two sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan, after marriage.

Consequently, Hrithik went under the tutelage of his father again and appeared in the 2003 release ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, which saw him portraying a mentally disabled young man who befriends an alien left stranded on Earth. The movie proved to be the highest-grossing and most critically acclaimed movie of that year. ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, in a lot of ways, was a rebirth of Hrithik in the industry. Not only did it bring him back to the big league, but also affirmed him as a good looking actor who could actually act.

The 2004 movie ‘Lakshya’, helmed by Farhan Akhtar, furthered his magnanimity as an actor. The coming of age of story of young aimless man transforming to a responsible army man with the 1999 Kargil War as the premise earned him yet another round of applause.

And then surfaced the Super Hero of Indian Cinema – ‘Krrish’. The sequel to ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, the movie had Hrithik playing a triple role and showing his well sculpted body. Nobody, other than him, could have played the role of a gifted child with aplomb. His mannerism, emotions, voice and gestures – everything spoke off his greatness as an actor. And then it was no looking back. Bollywood had got its official ‘Greek God’.

So while he could act like a child in his previous movies, he could also portray an enigmatic master thief in ‘Dhoom 2’, a sequel to YRF’s ‘Dhoom’. Loaded with enough attitude, Hrithik’s thief was no less than a hero himself.

Versatility has always been Hrithik’s forte, so carrying it further he played the role of Mughal Emperor ‘Akbar’ in Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Jodha Akbar’. Hrithik’s performance was widely appreciated by both audiences and critics, earning him his fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award as well as his first international award – ‘Best Actor’ at the Golden Minbar International Film Festival in Kazan, Russia.

Hrithik showed displayed his acting chops further in Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Luck By Chance’, home production ‘Kites’ and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish’.

Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara’ displayed yet again the variety of roles Hrithik is capable of playing. The restrained yet wanting-to-live-life banker could be reprised by nobody but him.

In 2012, Hrithik appeared in Karan Johar’s ‘Agneepath’, a remake of the 1990 classic revenge drama by the same name. Cast alongside Priyanka Chopra, he reinterpreted one of the most iconic characters of Hindi cinema – Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, originally played by Amitabh Bachchan, and excelled in that.

‘Krrish 3’, third edition of the ‘Krrish’ series, saw him playing the SuperHero yet again and this time the portrayal was larger than life. While Hrithik received another Filmfare Best Actor nomination for the movie, ‘Krrish 3’ emerged a box-office phenomenon, grossing over Rs 300 Cr worldwide and attaining a blockbuster status.

And then came the biggest blockbuster of his life – ‘Bang Bang’. Grossing more than Rs 300 Cr, the movie featured Katrina Kaif opposite Hrithik. Hailed by audiences and panned by critics, the movie was, however, accused to be objectifying not only women but also men, but hey! who’s complaining? Hrithik Roshan was heroic, handsome, adorable and what not in this official remake of Hollywood’s ‘Knight And Day’.

But as iterated earlier, his 14-year long marriage broke apart when he was shooting for this movie. In November, 2014, Hrithik Roshan and estranged wife Sussanne formally ended their marriage after a family court in Mumbai granted them divorce by mutual consent.

Hrithik also underwent a successful brain surgery to remove a clot that developed from “head injuries” suffered during filming of ‘Bang Bang’ while performing stunts. Before going for surgery, Hrithik had tweeted, “Minor brain surgery to remove blood clot” Should be rock n rolling by evening! U guys have a great day too! Supersonic!!”

But then, it’s in the tougher times, the world gets to know the mettle one is made of. Hrithik always maintained the dignity of himself as well as of the sacred matrimony.

In 2011 only, Hrithik Roshan’s life-size wax figure was installed at London’s Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, making him the fifth Indian actor to have been replicated as a wax statue in the museum. In 2013, Hrithik Roshan launched his own casual wear brand “HRx”.

From acting like a mentally disabled adolescent to a physically disabled magician, from a royal emperor to a jilted angry young man and a SuperHero, Hrithik Roshan has donned many hats and every time, a feather or so has only increased to his already feathered cap.

Currently working on Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Mohen Jo Daro’, the actor has broken another record of remuneration for an Indian actor. He, reportedly, will be paid a whopping Rs 50 Cr for the movie.

Here’s wishing the record machine, the dignified man and the Superhero of Indian Cinema a very happy birthday and happier times ahead.