Marking a milestone of two decades since actor Hrithik Roshan charmed audiences as Rohit in ‘Koi… Mil Gaya,’ a film that bid farewell to the endearing extraterrestrial Jadoo, Hrithik and his father Rakesh Roshan engaged in a reflective conversation. This dialogue encompassed the movie’s journey, the obstacles surmounted, and the heartwarming embrace it received from the viewers. In an exclusive interaction with Pinkvilla, the father-son duo delved into their experiences with challenges and caustic remarks encountered along the way.
Rakesh Roshan’s Witty Rejoinder
Hrithik candidly shared insights into his creative process, detailing how nailing the hairstyle is often the key to embodying a character. His musings elicited a playful retort from his father, who facetiously expressed gratitude for not being an actor in the present era. With a lighthearted jest, Hrithik, alluding to the hereditary baldness shared by his father and uncle, the composer Raesh Roshan, playfully remarked, “This tale of hair has woven itself into the fabric of our family narrative.”
Rakesh recounted a pointed encounter with a journalist during Hrithik’s nascent years in the film industry. He recollected the journalist’s cutting query, “You’re bereft of hair, and your son is destined to the same fate. What’s his recourse then?” Rakesh’s response was marked by a striking aplomb as he rejoined, highlighting the disparity, “You possess hair, but what have you achieved?” Emphasizing further, the director asserted, “Even if he sheds his locks, he won’t lose his destiny. One’s destiny isn’t inscribed upon their mane but resides beneath it,” he quipped, gesturing to his forehead.
Hrithik’s Instantaneous Bond with ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’
Hrithik revealed an instantaneous resonance with the concept of ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ when his father presented it to him. “The DNA match was immediate. Upon hearing the narrative, it dawned on me that this was an uncharted territory in our industry. As opinions began to form that a Bollywood film featuring an alien wouldn’t find resonance, and discouragement loomed, I leapt in and championed the project. The notion was otherworldly. Our cinematic narratives had hitherto revolved around familial dynamics confined within households, and now, the proposition of an extraterrestrial protagonist emerged; it was an audacious departure from the norm,” expressed the actor.
Rakesh Roshan’s Initial Reservations
Hrithik recounted a pivotal juncture when his father harbored reservations about the viability of such a project. “The consensus was that Hrithik was a quintessential action hero; pivoting to portray a character with mental challenges following three prior box office setbacks could potentially spell his downfall. Skepticism swirled that this role could seal the fate of his professional journey,” Hrithik elaborated. However, any doubts Rakesh harbored dissipated as soon as the cameras rolled. “Once I witnessed Hrithik’s embodiment of the role and his approach to it, my apprehensions evaporated. I was confident that we were steering towards a triumphant cinematic endeavor,” affirmed Rakesh.
Alteration in Exhibition Strategy
“I apprised all my distributors that this film was far from the conventional commercial narrative, hence eschewing the customary 9 am morning screenings. Unlike ‘Karan Arjun,’ ‘Koyla,’ and ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai,’ which witnessed the dawn screenings, with the film unfurling at 6 am, I secured written assurances that early morning showcases wouldn’t be a part of the plan,” disclosed Rakesh. Nevertheless, the distributors deviated from their commitment, orchestrating a 6 am release for ‘Koi… Mil Gaya.’ Subsequent to its early morning debut, the distributors swiftly notified Rakesh of the film’s resounding success.
In retrospection, the journey of ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ emerges as a testament to the resilience of the Roshan duo, fortified by their shared vision and their unwavering commitment to chart a novel course in Bollywood’s cinematic landscape.”
