Hrithik Roshan Birthday: Told he couldn’t dance, he went on to become a superstar

Hrithik Rakesh Nagrath (born January 10, 1974), known professionally as Hrithik Roshan, is a renowned Indian actor in Hindi cinema. He is known as the "Millennial Superstar." He has portrayed a variety of roles throughout his career and is renowned for his excellent dancing skills. He is one of India's highest-paid actors and has won numerous awards, including six Filmfare Awards, four of which were for Best Actor. Since 2012, he has been included on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list several times, based on his income and popularity.

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How was your journey with films?

Hrithik Roshan has worked with his father, Rakesh Roshan, in several films. He played small roles in a few films as a child artist in the 1980s and later worked as an assistant director on four of his father's films. His first lead role was in "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai" (2000), which was a major box office hit and earned him numerous awards. Subsequent films like "Fiza" (2000) and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" (2001) further cemented his popularity, although some of his subsequent films failed to live up to expectations.

"Koi... Mil Gaya" (2003) proved to be a major turning point in his career, earning him two Filmfare Awards. He later played superhero characters in his sequels, "Krrish" (2006) and "Krrish 3" (2013).

He received critical acclaim for his roles as an army officer in Lakshya (2004), a thief in Dhoom 2 (2006), Mughal emperor Akbar in Jodhaa Akbar (2008), and a paraplegic man in Guzaarish (2010).

He also achieved tremendous commercial success with films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Agneepath (2012), Super 30 (2019) and Siddharth Anand's Bang Bang (2014), War (2019), and Fighter (2024).

Hrithik has also performed on stage and made his television debut in 2011 with the dance reality show "Just Dance ." As a judge on the show, he became the highest-paid film star on Indian television at the time. He is also involved in numerous social and humanitarian causes, endorses several brands, and has even launched his own clothing line.

Early life and family background

Hrithik Roshan was born on January 10, 1974, in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, into a family deeply connected to Hindi cinema. He is of Punjabi and Bengali descent. His grandmother, Ira Nagrath (née Moitra), was a Bengali Brahmin from Kolkata and a singer by profession, while his grandfather,  Roshanlal Nagrath, was a renowned music composer. His father, Rakesh Roshan, is a film director, and his mother, Pinky, is the daughter of renowned producer-director J. Om Prakash.

Hrithik is affectionately called "Duggu" at home. He has an elder sister, Sunina. He attended Bombay Scottish School in Mahim. He comes from a Hindu family, but considers himself more spiritual than religious.

Hrithik faced many challenges as a child. He was born with an extra finger on his right hand, which caused some children to avoid him. He also suffered from a stutter from the age of six, which caused him significant difficulties in school. He attended daily speech therapy to practice his speech, often talking to himself in the bathroom.

Initial steps in films

Hrithik first appeared in the film "Asha" (1980) at the age of six , where he danced to a song featuring Jeetendra. He then appeared in small roles in several family films.

At the age of 12, he played his first speaking role in 'Bhagwan Dada' (1986) .

Although Hrithik had wanted to be an actor since childhood, his father wanted him to complete his studies first. Around the age of 20, he was diagnosed with scoliosis, which doctors told him prevented him from dancing or performing stunts. This was a huge setback, but he refused to give up. One day, while running on the beach, he realized he could now run without pain. He considers this day a turning point in his life.

Hrithik studied B.Com at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. He also worked as an assistant director on his father's films, including "Khudgarz" (1987), "King Uncle" (1993), "Karan Arjun" (1995), and "Koyla" (1997). During this time, he even performed tasks like sweeping the sets and making tea, so he could learn the intricacies of filmmaking.

Personal life and controversies

Hrithik married Sussanne Khan on 20 December 2000. They have two sons, Hrehaan (born 2006) and Hridhaan (born 2008). They separated in December 2013 and divorced in November 2014, although both have always maintained it was a mutual decision.

In 2016, Hrithik filed a cyberstalking and harassment case against actress Kangana Ranaut. Kangana denied the allegations and countered by claiming that the case was an attempt to cover up an alleged affair with him. The Mumbai Police later closed the case due to a lack of evidence.

Hrithik has been dating actress Saba Azad since 2022.

Controversy and legal action

Following the shooting attack on his father in 2000, Hrithik Roshan even considered leaving the film industry for a while. That same year, a major controversy erupted in Nepal when media reports claimed he had made derogatory remarks about Nepal and its people. This led to violent protests and a ban on his films. Hrithik Roshan later issued a written clarification, and the matter was settled.

In October 2025, amid growing concerns about the misuse of celebrities' voices and identities through AI and deepfakes, Hrithik Roshan filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights.

The video went viral with the sons

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Bollywood star  Hrithik Roshanis not only a brilliant actor, but also considered one of the most prolific dancers in Hindi cinema. His dance moves, perfection, and grace have captivated fans for years. But now, it seems that Hrithik's rivals in dance are none other than his own sons,  Ridhan and Hrehaan Roshan. A recent dance video that went viral on social media has confirmed this.

Hrithik Roshan on the work front

On the work front, Hrithik Roshan was last seen in the 2025 film "War 2." However, the film didn't do well at the box office. Despite this, fans are quite excited about Hrithik's upcoming projects. According to reports, he is currently preparing for "Krrish 4" and "Don 3," which are expected to once again be box office hits.      

Songs

FAQs

Q1. What is Hrithik Roshan's full name?

A. Hrithik Roshan's full name is Hrithik Rakesh Nagrath.

Q2. When and where was Hrithik Roshan born?

A. He was born on 10 January 1974 in Mumbai (then Bombay).

Q3. Why is Hrithik Roshan called the “Millennial Superstar”?

A. He earned this nickname after 2000 due to his back-to-back hit films, varied roles, and impressive dance skills.

Q4. With which film did Hrithik Roshan make his Bollywood debut?

A. He made a smashing debut in Bollywood as a lead actor with 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' (2000).

Q5. How many Filmfare Awards has Hrithik Roshan won so far?

A. He has won a total of six Filmfare Awards, four of which are for Best Actor.

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