When a suited-up Hrithik Roshan with sunglasses perched on his nose walked into the venue for our interview on a sunny Monday afternoon, it was evident that we were in the presence of a star. “Is it me or is it really cold in here?” asked the Bollywood actor, as he requested his entourage adjust the air-conditioning in the room.
We also heard someone whispering if the room smelt good enough and was to his liking? The initial signs had us bracing for a diva-esque interaction, but Roshan — the face of Swiss luxury brand Rado — proved us wrong. Throughout our exclusive interview, the 40-year-old Bang Bang! star was in a philosophical mood and was the epitome of earnestness.
“I don’t believe in being positive. Positivity is cr*p said Roshan, ahead of a fan meet-and-greet session and the launch of Rado’s limited edition watches at Rivoli R Lounge in Dubai Mall.
“I am a man who goes by evidence. If there’s enough evidence to be positive, then be that. That’s how I lead my life. I am very objective and do things through a logical analysis. Most of our times, our fears are illogical and are assumptions are not true. It’s not about being positive, so be objective.”
The newly divorced father of two boys also doesn’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.
“You’ve got to change that word. Don’t say that you will make a resolution, say instead that you will make a decision. That word has more certainty to it. So remember to make decisions and not resolutions. You tend to break resolutions.”
Perhaps it’s this attitude that made him the face of the watches brand. But the son of actor, producer and director Rakesh Roshan is convinced that he somehow made the forces in the universe collude to bring about this association.
“I manifested this… I have this emotional connect with Rado. My father used to wear a Rado watch when I was nine or ten years old. It made him look strong and masculine… So these watches were always aspirational for me and it’s quite a story if you look at it.”
Roshan, who was launched by his father with the blockbuster romance Kaho … Na Pyaar Hai in 2000, has enjoyed tremendous highs in his career with hits such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Krrish and his recent film Bang Bang!. A regular leader of sexiest man alive polls, Roshan has acted in a mix of period romances and is credited with bestowing India with its first dapper superhero with the Krrish series. The success of his latest blockbuster, Bang Bang!, a re-make of Tom Cruise’s Knight And Day, is largely down to his smouldering looks and high-octane action stunts.
“It [Bang Bang!] was one of my biggest successes. It was a film that I did right after my brain surgery and I was not in my best health. But I devised a new process of working and I cut a few corners — I couldn’t do [all those stunts] that I normally do for my films. I discovered that there was a less stressful way to do the same work… I learnt to trust myself and just do things,” said Roshan, who embraced 2014, warts and all.
Last year, he grappled with a blood clot in his brain, personal turmoil that came with divorcing his wife of 13 years Sussanne and swatting away rumours about link-ups with Bollywood stars such as Kangana Ranaut, Esha Gupta and more.
But ask him if he would turn back time and he said: “In hindsight, when you connect the dots there’s no worse time in your life. If you have been able to assess your experiences in the right way, then that experience transmutates into a good experience. I don’t consider any experience of mine as bad — all experiences have taught me something in my life. It has made me a better man and a stronger man.”
There’s no doubt that Roshan has found happiness and he’s intent on proving that he’s in a good place in life now.
“Earlier, I used to have a microscope that just watched my flaws. Now I realise that you need to have a telescope too. Through a telescope you can see the bigger picture, see the outcome and my objectives… Up until now, I only had a microscope — now I have the whole works,” said Roshan with a laugh. Even his own casual wear line, HRx — Push Your Extreme, has his life philosophy woven into its fabric.
“HRX is something that I look up to. It’s a combination and amalgamation of everything I believed in… It’s my service back to the world. I have a responsibility to the millions out there who think they don’t have the resources or access to do things … I want to use the brand to empower millions of people out there who are probably sitting there thinking that there is a difference between you and me. They think: ‘I can do things because of who I am’. But I want to show them that I am the same as them. It’s just about having access to your mental tools,” said Roshan.
While he’s forthcoming about drawing on his inner strength, he isn’t too keen to discuss his film projects. When asked if he has been finalised as the lead hero of Dhoom 4, Roshan gave an ambivalent response with: “I have not heard about it [those rumours] at all. Let’s see.”
However, he admitted that he’s currently doing the prep work for his epic romance Mohendjadaro, directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar. The two had earlier worked together for Jodhaa Akbar, a sweeping period romance between a Muslim emperor (Roshan) and his Hindu wife (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan).
“I will start shoot on January 18 and I am in the process of getting prepped. This is where all your efforts need to go in. That’s the tough bit.” His response to whether he would be reuniting on the big screen with Kareena Kapoor soon in Delhi for a new film was also met with a vehement denial.
“It’s absolutely false,” said Roshan.
Their working relationship was derailed in the early 2000s when rumours of an affair between them surfaced, and they have not acted together since 2003’s Main Prem Ki Dewaani Hoon.
He may not be keen to discuss his future projects, but he’s intent on making Dubai his second home. The actor even dropped hints about going house shopping soon.
“Dubai is my favourite city in the world and I really hope to own a home here,” said Roshan. His parting shot?
“I don’t believe in turning back time. The adventure lies in taking in the moment, enjoying it — despite what has transpired. There’s no point in wanting, wishing or fantasising about turning back time. Now that’s a waste of time.”
Quote/Unquote:
“Go crazy,” Roshan’s tip to all DSF shoppers as he launched the special edition of DiaMaster Skeleton and Rado DiaMaster limited edition watches.
