Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor, born on January 10, 1974, who works in Bollywood. He is known for his versatile roles and exceptional dancing skills. One of the highest-paid actors in India, he has won numerous awards, including six Filmfare Awards, four of which were for Best Actor. Since 2012, he has appeared multiple times on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list, based on his earnings and popularity.

Born	10 January 1974 (age 50) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor
Years Active	2000- Present
Spouse	Sussanne Khan
Children	2
Father	Rakesh Roshan

Hrithik often works with his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan. He started his career in the 1980s with small roles as a child actor and later assisted his father on four of his films. His breakthrough came with the hit movie *Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai* (2000), which earned him several awards. His performances in *Fiza* (2000) and *Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham* (2001) helped build his reputation, though some of his later films didn't perform well at the box office.

A major turning point in his career came with the 2003 sci-fi movie *Koi... Mil Gaya*, which won him two Filmfare Awards. This success led to him playing the superhero in its sequels, *Krrish* (2006) and *Krrish 3* (2013). He also received acclaim for roles in *Dhoom 2* (2006), *Jodhaa Akbar* (2008), and *Guzaarish* (2010). Hrithik continued his success with films like *Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara* (2011), *Agneepath* (2012), *Super 30* (2019), and action-packed movies such as *Bang Bang!* (2014), *War* (2019), and *Fighter* (2024).

In addition to acting, Hrithik has appeared on stage and served as a judge on the dance reality show *Just Dance* (2011), becoming the highest-paid film star on Indian television at the time. He is also involved in various humanitarian efforts, endorses several brands, and has launched his own clothing line. Hrithik was married to Sussanne Khan for 14 years, and they have two children together.

Early life and background

Hrithik Roshan was born on January 10, 1974, in Mumbai into a family well-known in Bollywood. His father, Rakesh Roshan, is a film director, and his mother, Pinkie, is the daughter of producer and director J. Om Prakash. Hrithik comes from a diverse background, with Punjabi and Bengali heritage on his father's side. His paternal grandmother was Bengali, and his uncle, Rajesh, is a music composer. Hrithik has an older sister, Sunaina, and attended Bombay Scottish School. Though he comes from a Hindu family, Hrithik has mentioned that he is more spiritual than religious.

As a child, Hrithik faced challenges. He was born with an extra thumb on his right hand, which was fused to the other, making him feel isolated, and some peers avoided him because of it. He also struggled with a stutter from the age of six, which made school difficult, especially during oral exams. To overcome this, he received daily speech therapy.

Hrithik’s first appearance on screen came when he was just six years old, when his grandfather, Prakash, included him in a dance sequence in the film *Aasha* (1980), for which he was paid ₹100. He made several uncredited appearances in family films, including his father's *Aap Ke Deewane* (1980) and *Aas Paas* (1981), where he appeared in a song. His first speaking role came when he was 12, playing the adopted son of the title character in *Bhagwaan Dada* (1986).

Although he always wanted to be an actor, his father urged him to focus on his studies first. In his early 20s, Hrithik was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that initially prevented him from dancing or doing stunts. This was a tough blow, but he eventually decided to pursue acting anyway. After about a year, he tried jogging on a beach in the rain and discovered that it didn't cause any pain. This experience helped him regain confidence and marked a turning point in his life.

Hrithik attended Sydenham College, where he participated in dance and music festivals while earning a degree in commerce. He also assisted his father on four films—*Khudgarz* (1987), *King Uncle* (1993), *Karan Arjun* (1995), and *Koyla* (1997)—doing everything from sweeping the floor to making tea for the crew. After the shoots, Hrithik would often reenact scenes from *Koyla*, playing Shah Rukh Khan's character, and film himself to evaluate his acting. During this time, he also trained in acting under Kishore Namit Kapoor.

Film carrier

2000–2002: Debut, Success, and Setbacks

Hrithik Roshan was initially set to make his acting debut in Shekhar Kapur’s film *Tara Rum Pum Pum*, opposite Preity Zinta, but the project was cancelled. Instead, he starred in his father’s romantic drama *Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai* (2000) alongside Ameesha Patel, another newcomer. Hrithik played dual roles: Rohit, an aspiring singer who is murdered after witnessing a crime, and Raj, an NRI who falls in love with Patel’s character. To prepare for the role, Hrithik trained with Salman Khan to build muscle, worked on his diction, and took lessons in acting, singing, dancing, fencing, and riding. *Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai* was a huge success, grossing ₹800 million (around $9.6 million), making it one of the highest-grossing Indian films of the year. Hrithik’s performance was praised by critics, with one calling him the most promising newcomer among Bollywood's star kids. He won multiple awards for Best Male Debut and Best Actor, including at the Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, and Zee Cine Awards, making him the first actor to win both Best Debut and Best Actor in the same year. This film marked Hrithik as a rising star in Bollywood, although he found the sudden fame and demands on his time difficult to manage.

In his second film, *Fiza* (2000), Hrithik played Amaan, a young man who becomes a terrorist after the 1992–93 Bombay riots. Although *Fiza* had a moderate box office performance, Hrithik’s acting was again praised, earning him a second Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. His next film, *Mission Kashmir* (2000), a crime drama set against the backdrop of the Kashmir conflict, was a commercial success. Hrithik played a complex role as a man who learns that his adoptive father was responsible for the death of his biological family. Critics appreciated Hrithik’s screen presence and performance.

In 2001, Hrithik appeared in two films. The first, *Yaadein*, a romantic drama with Kareena Kapoor, was a critical failure, though Hrithik’s popularity helped maintain some commercial appeal. His next film, *Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...*, was a massive hit, both in India and abroad. Directed by Karan Johar, it featured an ensemble cast, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kajol. Hrithik played Rohan, the younger son of Bachchan's character, and his performance earned him praise for standing out among the established stars. The film went on to become India’s highest-grossing film of the year, and Hrithik received a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2002, Hrithik faced some setbacks with a string of box office failures. His first film of the year, *Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage*, a romance with Ameesha Patel, did not perform well. This was followed by another flop, *Na Tum Jaano Na Hum*, in which he starred with Saif Ali Khan and Esha Deol. His last film of the year was *Mujhse Dosti Karoge!*, a romantic comedy with Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor. Despite heavy promotion, the film did well internationally but struggled in India. Hrithik’s other film that year, *Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon*, was another commercial failure. The press began to label him as a “one-trick pony” and speculated that these failures might hurt his career.