Superstar Hrithik Roshan bowled audiences over with his adrenaline pumping action entertainer War, directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra. The visual spectacle became an all-time blockbuster in the history of Indian cinema and Hrithik made the country drool over him with his effortless charm and mastery over breath-taking action sequences.
On the second anniversary of the humongous hit, Hrithik reveals his first reaction to WAR’s script. He says, “Well, it’s complicated. When I read the script I didn’t see anything in it that excited me. It was too frivolous and superficial. And I was into ‘real’ cinema like Super 30 at the time. On hearing my reaction both Siddharth Anand and Aditya Chopra rushed to my house and it took 5 mins worth of reframing for me to GET the film. Adi said look at it as an entertainer like Dhoom 2.”
Hrithik adds, “And then we sat and went through the entire script again and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And also realized my folly. Sometimes, it’s important to GET how the director wants to interpret the script. And having done Bang Bang with Sid, I could trust in what they were saying. I saw it as an opportunity for me to try and bring in weight and depth into the film with Kabir’s character which is otherwise not seen in such movies. That aspect really excited me. I think the best way to make movies which are ‘not so deep’ is to have characters who are really, really deep. It’s fun then.”
The superstar credits Aditya Chopra and Siddharth Anand for their vision to create the biggest action entertainer India has ever seen! He says, “I think it’s safe to say that it was the spectacular vision of Sid Anand and Adi Chopra as film-makers who made it what it is today. As a contributor, I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of War and the response it received only encourages me to follow my gut and work with my whole heart and soul.”
Hrithik has always set new benchmarks for himself and the Indian film industry with his body of work. War too set benchmarks in action, dance, scale – it was a spectacle. Ask him what makes him a genre pushing superstar and he says, “Personally, I’m an adventure junkie and that somewhere spills over to the work I do and the people I associate with. Professionally, I’ve always seen acting as living through the varied stories and onscreen characters I have been lucky to be a part of. My choice of films have been instinctive, I enjoy exploring and immersing myself with different psychologies, personas and experiences.”
Hrithik adds, “The exercise only broadens myself as a human being, makes me more sensitive to my surroundings and people. Every film has shaped me as a being, the journey has been one of learnings and unlearnings – both of which I truly cherish. Yes, there were risks and venturing in unknown waters can be challenging but with it was the thrill. The absolute adrenaline rush I feel with doing things that are new for me. I do not set out to set a precedent for anyone, but myself. That’s what keeps me going.