Will never direct without Hrithik: Rakesh Roshan

Except for the spectacular success of Hrithik Roshan’s Super 30, it’s been a tough year for the Roshans, with the patriarch Rakesh Roshan getting detected with a life-threatening ailment, and daughter Sunaina on a warpath against her family.

However, nothing has deterred Roshan senior from resuming work. Rakesh, whose last directorial venture was Krissh 3 in 2013, is currently scripting Krissh 4. The homegrown superhero-film franchise, which starred Rakesh’s superstar son Hrithik, has gone through an interesting arc, making one wonder what the Roshans have to offer in the next part. “Nothing is finalised yet, except that my son Hrithik will star in it. I will never direct a film without Hrithik in the lead,” reveals Rakesh.

Further, Rakesh’s friend and fellow veteran actor Rishi Kapoor had recently said in an interview that the former actor never got his due in Bollywood. But Rakesh is happy with what life has given him, as he assures, “I couldn’t have asked for more. As a leading man, I had many hits in the 1970s. Then as a director, I’ve seen many successes, but above all, I have got a fabulous and supportive family. What more do I need?”

Moreover, Rakesh turned 70 yesterday but chose to celebrate without any fanfare. One may assume that personal problems may have bogged down the celebratory spirit, but the reasons were multifaceted. A source close to the Roshans informs, “The death of Hrithik’s maternal grandfather J Om Prakash was the reason why Rakeshji’s birthday was celebrated so quietly. Plus, his closest friend Rishi is in America, recovering from an illness. Given the sobering circumstances, Rakesh told Hrithik to put the 70th birthday celebrations on hold until later.”