HRITHIK ROSHAN : THE 21st CENTURY SUPERSTAR
By - Pankaj S. Tarapure

Make way for the inheritors, for they shall inherit the silver screen. On screen or off screen, they will make news and thanks to the media they will create waves with one or two films under their belts. And Hrithik belongs to this category. He can boast of a family filled with a multitude of cinema artists- his grandfather was the late music director Roshan, his father Rakesh Roshan is an actor and filmmaker and his wife is the daughter of filmmaker Sanjay Khan.

Though none of his films have seen as much success as his first film Kaho Na Pyar Hai directed by his father, which created new box-office records, one of his latest movies KKKG has proved to a big hit. In fact in all the films he has done so far, Hrithik has proved that he is capable of a multitude of emotions and excelling in all types of roles. If his debut film introduced him as an excellent emotional actor and dancer, Fiza and Mission Kashmir showed him in his element as an action star. While Yaadein revealed his talent in comedy and serious acting, KKKG showed him as a youthful and very emotional lad who gives a lot value to traditions. His first film came as a child actor in 1986 when his father cast him in 'Bhagwan Dada ', He appeared for a wee bit appearance in the film Aap Ke Deewane in 1980.

The 28 -year old "Duggu" (as Hrithik's family addresses him), is one of the tallest men in Bollywood, standing six feet and two inches tall. And his films have shown that he has muscles that could put the WWE wrestlers to shame.

Duggu's birthday is on the 10th of Jan and his first hit came on the 14th of Jan 2000 (with Amisha?). Its stupendous success can be gauged by the fact that this movie won a total of 104 awards worldwide.

Born in 1974, Hrithik Roshan was educated at the Maneckji Copper School and then at Bombay Scottish. After graduating from Sydenham College, he assisted his father in direction. Hrithik married his girlfriend Suzanne Khan in December 2000, whereas other stars at the start of their career would have thought twice before jumping into matrimony.

Apart from films, Hrithik has already made a big mark on the advertisement scene as well. The collection includes beverage giant Coca Cola, Financial services portal Home Trade, the Sahara Group, and the current craze, Hero Honda's 'Desh Ki Dhadkan' with Sourav Ganguly. Hrithik is undoubtedly the biggest icon of the advertising industry in the year 2001-02. In fact, film industry sources say that the superstar has already made more from advertising contracts than films. They say Hrithik is the highest paid advertising icon next only to the Big B.

Undoubtedly, Hrithik has arrived with his father's blue eyes and his mother Pinky's Jaw line. With his fabulous dancing, emoting skills and muscles, he has become the darling of his fans numbering millions sending an entire nation into frenzy and generating mass hysteria. He is the 21st Century Superstar.

pankaj_thecoolest1@yahoo.co.in