Did you know Hrithik Roshan was shooed away with a stick by cops on Mission Kashmir sets?

Hrithik Roshan was shooed away by a stick

Before Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai turned Hrithik Roshan into a national phenomenon, the young actor was shooting in the tense valleys of Kashmir for Mission Kashmir.

The Vidhu Vinod Chopra film, co-starring Sanjay Dutt and Preity Zinta, was among the most ambitious projects of its time, but not even its producer could have predicted the bizarre incident that would unfold on the set.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra recalled in an old interview with Lehren Retro how Hrithik was once shooed away on two occasions by local cops with a stick, as they mistook the actor for a local man rather than the film’s lead.

“When we were shooting in Kashmir, the cops shooed Hrithik away twice with a stick. They were saying, ‘Get back,’ and he was yelling. I had to say, ‘Sir, let him come in’,” he recalled.

At the time, Hrithik had not yet made his debut with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. He was still a newcomer, quietly working on Mission Kashmir, unaware that a few months later he would become India’s biggest breakout star.

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Ironically, when the film finally released in October 2000, just ten months after Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. Hrithik was already a household name.

Mission Kashmir was a difficult film to make, both emotionally and logistically. Set against the backdrop of insurgency, Vidhu Vinod Chopra shot in real locations that often doubled as conflict zones.

The crew faced curfews, unpredictable weather, and the looming fear of violence. Amid all this, Hrithik’s calm demeanour and dedication stood out.

Hrithik Roshan was last seen in War 2 that didn’t perform well at the box office. He will next be seen in Krrish 4 and an untitled project with Homebale Films.

He is also making his OTT debut as a producer with Prime Video for a thriller series titled Storm.