Back to: Hrithik Special

Koi Mil Gaya is seen in the industry as a make or break film for Hrithik Roshan. Ever since his debut in Kaho Na Pyar Hai - which was a major hit - Hrithik has failed in producing hits at the Box Office. Its now up to his father Rakesh Roshan to help him effect a U-turn. Rakesh is ready with Koi Mil Gaya which might see the comeback of Hrithik. Here he speaks on the 40-crore movie and son Hrithik.

How much has Hrithik changed since Kaho Na Pyar Hai?
I think he's gone ahead in leaps and bounds. He understands the medium further and he gets so involved with a character. He is very confident, knows exactly the mind frame of the director and works with such a focus that you don't have to tell him this or that or don't do it this way. He comes very close to the character.

How important is Koi Mil Gaya for you, both as producer and father?
As a producer/director, this film, like every other, is important to me and to everyone associated with it. In Hrithik's case after his first film, none of his films succeeded. So this film is like a test for him. It is as if he now has to prove something to his detractors.

In this context, does this film assume more importance?
Actors can’t prove anything. A film is a director's medium, an actor has to come and do his job. He can’t do anything else. If my film doesn't do well, Hrithik shouldn't be blamed for it. If I make a film, I can go wrong with the plot and the screenplay. The actor follows instructions, so why should he be blamed?

How did you get this idea of having an alien in the film? Will audiences accept it?
I think so. We underestimate our audience. When we made Kaho Na Pyar Hai we had two characters with no relationship to each other. My friend in the industry told me to give them some relationship - a long lost twin or something like that. But we do see unrelated people having a resemblance, don't we. When I decided to make a film this time I felt, we had become stagnant in our plots and ideas. I thought if this film succeeds, it'll make people think of new themes. They will give definite characters to the artistes. In Koil Mil Gaya, though Hrithik is the hero, he plays a character role in the film. He is not the usual hero which everyone plays, but he is still the hero.

How did you get the idea of creating a character which Hrithik plays?
I don't know. It just occurred to me one day. I got up and wrote one line and rang up Hrithik who was in Delhi shooting for Yaadein. I already had another subject in mind but I wasn't very happy with it. I kept feeling I was not doing anything that would make me feel that I was moving ahead. So when this idea occured to me, I called Hrithik and said this is an idea I 've got. He jumped at it and said I must do it. But to detail this one line took a lot of hard work. I had to go to Australia to execute the creation of the alien, I roped in Mark Colbe for the special effects and what they've done for me is very close to what I had visualised.

What will the success of this film do for Hrithik?
It'll carry him forward if it succeeds.

Which films have you liked him in?
K3G, Fiza, Mission Kashmir even Na Tum Jano Na Hum, though the film lacked somewhere in the overall presentation.

Does your son have the capacity to surprise the filmmaker in you?
Yes, after I've explained a take to him I guage what he's going to give me. But he often surpasses my expectations. That surprises me.

Lata Khubchandani
India Syndicate