Rakesh Roshan, who had a serious health scare a few years ago, is fine and in good health. “I eat well, sleep well, go to the gym regularly. As for fitness, I have my son (Hrithik Roshan) for inspiration at home. In our times when I was playing romantic roles, heroes were allowed to be a bit paunchy. That doesn’t work now. I work out. But I don’t overdo it. The rest is up to the fitness expert up there.”
Rakesh’s mantra for a good life? “Make every day your birthday and celebrate. Spread happiness as much as you can and stay away from negativity. I’ve always believed in thinking and being positive.”
Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan are friends. “We’re very close. And yes, we’re friends. But there is still that respect in him for me. He can never cross the line. If I enter a room while he is relaxing, he will spring to his feet.”
Success, says Rakesh Roshan, has not changed his son over the years. “He is still the same hard-working boy who wraps his omelette in a newspaper and rushes to his shooting in the morning. That kind of dedication is very rare. Any director, including me, is lucky to have him on board. He is fully with the director. He makes no distinction between working with me and working with an outside director. He is equally involved in both cases.”
Getting emotional, Rakesh says, “He can work with outside directors. But I’d never work with any other actor, unless I am making an out-and-out heroine-oriented film like Khoon Bhari Maang. I might be tempted to make a film with a female protagonist. But only if Hrithik is too busy to work with me.”
Rakesh Roshan has given up on acting. “Or, rather acting has given up on me. I enjoyed my stint as an actor. When I was an actor, I could feel a filmmaker lurking within me. But I was never satisfied as an actor. I had a big hit like Kaamchor. But that helped Jaya Prada’s career, not mine. I knew God wanted me to be a director. Now I feel Hrithik, who is such a successful actor, far more than I ever could be, has a filmmaker lurking within him. Now Hrithik is all set to direct the next Krrish film. Mark my words, he’ll be a very fine director. I am sure of that. He may not be a good producer, but he’ll be a terrific director.”
Rakesh Roshan looks forward to launching Hrithik’s sons as heroes. “Provided they want to be in films. I’d love to launch them. My blessings are with Hrithik. Whatever he does in life, my wife and I want him to never change. He’s kind, helpful, generous. He deserves happiness.”
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