Today, January 10, marks the birthday of star actor Hrithik Roshan, and on this special occasion, the 25th anniversary of his debut and most popular film, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, is also being celebrated. To mark this occasion, the film is being re-released in theaters. It is the very film that gave Hrithik his recognition in the world of cinema. On this special occasion, Rakesh Roshan opened up about his journey with the film and shared his thoughts on Hrithik's remarkable career. Rakesh Roshan Reflects on Launching Hrithik Talking about launching his son in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Rakesh Roshan recalled his own experience of entering the film industry at the age of 21. “When I started in the industry, I thought I had come in too late. So when it was Hrithik's turn, I felt he should make his debut at the age of 24 or 25,” he shared. Rakesh emphasized that Hrithik was not launched because he was his son, but because he was a talented actor. “I had seen him as a child artist in films like Bhagwan Dada and knew that he had matured as an actor. That"s when I decided to give him the platform,” he added. The Release Amidst Big Names in the Industry 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai' was released in an era when Bollywood was dominated by superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Anil Kapoor. Many advised Rakesh to change the release date, but he was determined to stick with it. “People kept suggesting that I should change the release date because the big stars were releasing their films. But I thought, if I did that, the fear would remain forever. My film had two newcomers—Hrithik and Ameesha Patel—and I was confident it would succeed,” Rakesh said. From 'Koi Mil Gaya' to 'Krrish': Visionary Filmmaking Rakesh Roshan is also known for creating successful films like Koi Mil Gaya and the Krrish series, which helped solidify Hrithik"s star status. He revealed that his idea for Koi Mil Gaya was influenced by watching the film Lagaan. “When I saw Lagaan in South Africa, I was stunned. It made me think about what I could do next with Hrithik. I didn"t want to repeat the same kind of films,” Rakesh explained. However, many criticized him for choosing such an unconventional role for Hrithik. “While we were making Koi Mil Gaya, many people told me that I was ruining Hrithik"s career. But Hrithik and I believed in the film. We both knew it would showcase his true talent,” he added. Hrithik"s Dedication to His Craft Rakesh also praised Hrithik"s dedication to his work, which has been a key factor in his enduring stardom. “I"ve seen Hrithik grow up, and I"ve never seen him take shortcuts. Many times, I felt a scene was fine, but he would insist on doing another take, saying, "Let"s try it again, Baba. I"ll do it better." He always gives his 110% in every shot. That"s what makes him the actor he is today,” Rakesh said. Re-release of "Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai": A Full Circle Moment Reflecting on the re-release of Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Rakesh shared how nervous he was when the film first released in 2000. “When the film released, I was extremely nervous. I even called my friends to the editing room to show them the film because if it didn"t succeed, Hrithik might not have had other opportunities. But after its success, Hrithik was signed by big producers. Now, as the film is re-releasing, I"m going through that same nervousness again,” he said. He added, “If this film manages to achieve even 1% of the success it had back then, it would still be a huge achievement for me. The way the film made Hrithik a star was nothing short of a dream. It"s a very emotional and special moment for us.” On the occasion of Hrithik"s milestone and the film"s re-release, the Roshan family is also excited to present a documentary series titled The Roshans. The documentary, which will be released on Netflix on January 17, delves into the lives and legacy of the Roshan family, from Rakesh Roshan to his father, legendary music director Roshan Lal Nagrath, to Hrithik himself. Read also: Kapil Sharma Worked in Sunny Deol"s Film, Director Shouted at Him Aanand L Rai and A R Rahman Reunite for 'Tere Ishk Mein' in Rishikesh Isha Malviya Opens Up on Playing Lovely in Ravi-Sargun's Lovely Lola Shrutika Arjun Slams Vivian Dsena's Hypocrisy; Supports Karanveer & Shilpa