By: ASJAD NAZIR
MASSIVELY popular movie star Hrithik Roshan turns a year older on January 10 and celebrates the 22nd anniversary of his stunning debut film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai on January 14.
Eastern Eye decided to mark the actor’s 48th birthday and his record-breaking first step into Bollywood by preparing a watchlist of his top 10 performances.
Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000): One of the greatest cinematic debuts in Bollywood history saw the actor take audiences by surprise with an award-winning performance. He plays two contrasting characters in a film that is very much about two distinct halves and showed incredible all-round star potential, from his ability to deliver power-packed emotions to stunning dance moves, not seen before by a Hindi cinema hero.
Koi Mil Gaya (2003): The stunning science-fiction film showed the world there was a lot more to Hrithik than being a pin-up, as he delivered arguably the greatest acting turn of his career. He lost loads of weight and changed his entire body language to play a mentally challenged young man, and then transformed himself again to play a muscle-bound heroic figure. He, not surprisingly, won a truck full of awards for his perfect performance.
Krrish (2006): It was always going to be a difficult task to follow up multi-award-winning film Koi Mil Gaya with a sequel, but instead of being crushed by the pressure the actor delivered a game-changing superhero. The film would lay the foundation for the superhero genre in Bollywood and that was largely thanks to a magnetic performance on-screen by an actor on top of his game. It was so good that he returned for another heroic turn as the same character in Krrish 3 (2013).
Dhoom 2 (2006): There perhaps has never been a Bollywood villain who has been so charming, dashing, and magnetic as in this action sequel. That was largely due to the actor’s immense screen presence as a master thief, with a mysterious past, in this blockbuster hit. Despite the movie being a multi-starrer, all eyes were on the actor and there has been demand for him to reprise the role ever since.
Jodhaa Akbar (2008): There was great power in this nicely nuanced performance as a historical ruler in this breath-taking period film. He captures the essence of a real-life ruler by using the intensity of his voice and facial expressions, which are elevated by regal outfits. It was no surprise that he won most of the Best Actor awards for his hard work.
Guzaarish (2010): The deeply emotional drama, written and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, may not have clocked up big box office numbers, but what it did have was phenomenal acting from Hrithik Roshan. In perhaps the most challenging role of his career, the actor plays a paralysed magician-turned-radio host, who files a petition in court seeking permission to end his life.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011): The multi-starrer about male bonding had a majestic turn from the marvellously versatile actor. Although he looks heroic, the actor shows a rare vulnerability in his relatable role and goes on a journey of self-discovery that connected strongly with audiences. He received several Best Actor nominations at various Bollywood award ceremonies.
Agneepath (2012): It was always going to be a huge task to take on a classic role made iconic by Amitabh Bachchan, but Hrithik rose to the challenge in this hit remake. He plays an everyday individual, so hellbent on revenge that he ventures down a decidedly dark path and the result is an incendiary turn that set fire to the big screen.
Kaabil (2017): The actor has always shown immense bravery with his choices right from the very beginning and this smart action thriller continued that trend. He plays a blind voice-over artist, who takes the law into his own hands and becomes a vigilante. The result was a multi-layered performance that had not been seen by a commercial Hindi film hero before.
Super 30 (2019): The chameleon-like actor transformed himself once again in this biographical drama and was almost unrecognisable. He plays mathematics teacher and educational game-changer Anand Kumar in this powerful story, filled with inspiring moments. Like so many of his films, he breathed emotion and left a lasting impression.
