Hrithik Roshan: ‘Patty’s arrogance is a force field; he doesn’t allow people in’

Hrithik Roshan in a still from Fighter, which released in theatres on January 25.

The last time Hrithik Roshan donned an Indian Armed Forces uniform on screen was for Lakshya (2004), a film which went on to attain a cult status in recent years. After a dismal turn with 2022’s Vikram Vedha, the 50-year-old superstar is back in a uniform playing Squadron Leader Shamsher ‘Patty’ Pathania in Siddharth Anand’s Fighter which releases in theatres on January 25. Edited excerpts from a conversation with the actor:

You are not just an actor but also a star. How do you strike the balance?

There is always a tug of war inside me. I really enjoy being an actor and aspire to do better every single day. My work is to act and I enjoy the process of getting to know the character and his motivations. That is my work. Stardom is not my work. That is a gift bestowed upon me. I am thankful for that but it is not something that empowers me. My empowerment comes from me giving a good shot and getting the director’s approval. When I deliver as an actor, I sleep well. Stardom can sometimes become a burden. I am learning how to turn this burden into gratitude.

Your co-star in this film is Deepika Padukone and is a fresh pairing for the audience. How was it to work with her?

I was very excited to work with her. I think everything becomes easy when two actors come as actors and are focussed on interpreting the lines and getting the best out of each scene. With Deepika that became really easy because she brings a lot of realism in her work. I was constantly bouncing off of that. I think all the scenes of Minni and Patty look extremely vulnerable and endearing. There’s another thing I’d like to share about her during the time we were shooting for the song Sher Khul Gaye. I had put in a lot of effort in getting the steps right but when I saw her doing the same step, I thought it was looking so effortless. I saw what she was doing and copied her style. Sometimes you get lost in the technicalities and when I saw her dancing, I thought of changing my style a bit and doing it her way. That enhanced my dance as well.

You have worked as an assistant on some of your dad Rakesh Roshan’s films where Anil Kapoor was the actor. How was it to share screen space with him?  

I have worked as an assistant and watched Anil sir in a lot of my dad’s films. My process of how I get into the film as an actor is by seeing him. I spent three-four years doing that. We were shooting for Fighter and I saw him in a few scenes that he had shot earlier. Usually when you compliment someone on how well they have done in a scene, the common reaction is to say ‘thank you’ but when you win an Olympic gold medal or a medal at Wimbledon, something you have put your life and soul into, and then you get a compliment, you get overwhelmed. I saw the scene he had shot which was written on paper as a very aggressive scene. I saw what he did, interpreting it in an entirely different emotion and taking the film to a whole new level because of that. When I told him, his eyes welled up. I was just watching him and trying to understand that this man must have put so much of himself into that one scene. And he has been doing this for four decades! That day, I turned into an assistant again and just watched him. I hope to God that I can maintain that kind of power in me to give that much of me.

Your character Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania is a rebel, just like Lieutenant Pete Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise) from Top Gun (1986). Both films see the lead actors in the Armed Forces. Is there any connection?

They are not the same at all. In Top Gun, Pete is a rebel without a cause. It is his character. Patty’s arrogance is a force field. He doesn’t allow people in. There is a backstory which you discover in the film. He is not arrogant or a rebel. He is protecting his inner feelings from getting exposed in front of others.

Earlier, you have done smaller films such as Kaabil (2017) or Guzaarish (2010). Do you think it is possible for big stars such as you to do those kinds of films anymore?

Of course. Why would anyone not hope and dream of the scope of our films being as wide as possible? I have done many such films where Box Office was not in the calculation at all. If I find a script that hits my heart, such as a Super 30 (2019) or a Guzaarish, then I would do it. I am a slave to my instinct. There is no Mathematics in that. Artists can’t be mathematicians, calculating how much a film is bringing to them. They have to follow their heart.

A still from Fighter.

In Lakshya, you played an Indian Army officer. How different was it to don the uniform here?

The uniform has some magic. I have also worn a cape and a costume in Krrish (2006). I felt strong when I wore that. In Lakshya, the uniform gave me strength and in Fighter, I felt the weight and the responsibility. You actually feel the power when you wear a uniform of the Indian Armed Forces.

You have worked with Siddharth Anand in Bang Bang! (2014) and War (2019). What is the kind of progress you have seen in his journey?

What I see in Sid is an incredible fighter. His preparedness and knowledge about Hindi cinema is immense. He watches everything and he can cite references from all those places. The other thing is that he is stubborn. He will not stop till the last moment to get things right. If you think I am a perfectionist, meet Sid Anand! This is also an area where I completely align with him. This partnership has been extremely fruitful. I have noticed his confidence grow but I have not seen the humility disappear. I have no fear as an actor when I am working with a director like him. He wants to give the audience not just something to like but also to be surprised by, which is why he keeps pushing the boundaries.

It has been 24 years since your debut film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. Even today, is there a fear in your heart when you are going to shoot a scene?

The first effort is to interpret the lines in front of you, bring your humanness and experiences and find that point where the lines can become you. Secondly, you always have a vision of how you want the character to look and to see where he comes from and where he’s going. As an actor, you have to keep inserting moments, gestures and nuances which will make you understand what the person is behind those lines. I am very afraid when I am reading a scene because that is unpredictable. You are always searching for it and that search does not stop until the director says cut. Then it is the next shot and it never stops and that’s the life of an actor.