The 1st month of the 21st century marked the debut of India’s youngest superstars Hrithik Roshan with the release of Kaho Na Pyar Hai in the yeat 2000.
The film’s songs and initial glimpses had the masses awaiting for the debut of Hrithik Roshan, an actor who was touted to be an entertainment package complete with good looks, dancing, action and romance.
Upon release, Kaho Na Pyar Hai witnessed tremendous response from across quarters of India making Hrithik Roshan an overnight sensation.
Interestingly its a lesser known fact that the debutant actor received a first-hand experience of his newly achieved superstardom while on a theatre visit with Kunal Kapoor.
Kunal Kapoor recalls visiting Mumbai’s suburbian single screen theatre with Hrithik Roshan to gauge audience reactions on Day 1 of Kaho na Pyar hai’s release. He shares, ” “I saw the public pouncing on Hrithik (Roshan), some were pulling his shirt, some were reaching out for his hair, some were trying to hug him. I somehow reached out to him and took him out and he was just completely shocked because no one had anticipated such a reaction. He was shocked and he looked at me and said, ‘Is this good or is this bad?’ I said this is great.”
Adding further Kunal Kapoor said, “What eventually happened that we were taken to a small room in the theater which was the manager’s room and got us seated till security was arranged because naturally, there was no security at that moment as no one anticipated such would happen. So we were waiting in the room and after half an hour or so security came. Till then the public had gone crazy, half of them went back to theaters to watch the film but half were still standing out waiting for him. Somehow we were taken out and reached for our cars. That obviously was our last theater visit, because we thought if this is the reaction it’s better that we don’t go and disturb the theater.”
Talking about the overnight Superstardom of Hrithik Roshan, Kunal shared, “I think I saw such a fan frenzy for the first time that someone’s life changed to such an extent in a matter of two and a half hours.”
‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’ not only gave Bollywood an actor but a phenomenon. The actor won hearts with his endearing performances in many films ever since his debut.
On the work front, Hrithik Roshan is currently prepping for his first ever biopic based on the life of mathematics genius Anand Kumar, after which the actor will be seen in an action-thriller with Tiger Shroff and also will ring in the fourth franchise of the Superhero flick ‘Krrish’.
