Rakesh Roshan Recalls Hrithik’s Struggle With Stammering, Says ‘He Locked Himself In The Bathroom’

March 19, 2025: Veteran actor and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan recently opened up about the challenges his son, Hrithik Roshan, faced in his early years, particularly in dealing with stammering. Rakesh shared how he felt as a father witnessing Hrithik’s struggle with speech difficulties, which he described as a tough experience.

“I used to feel bad. He wanted to say so many things, but he used to hold himself back because of his stuttering. He is so well-educated and very intelligent, but it was something that stopped him from expressing himself fully,” Rakesh said. He recalled a specific incident where Hrithik, while in Dubai, was struggling to say the words “Thank you, Dubai.” He had become so frustrated that he locked himself in the bathroom, trying to memorize just those two sentences.

However, Hrithik was determined to overcome this obstacle. “He worked so hard on it. Every morning, he would wake up and read the newspaper in English, Hindi, and Urdu for an hour. And eventually, he no longer stuttered. For the last 10 to 12 years, he hasn’t had that problem,” Rakesh shared, expressing his immense pride in his son’s perseverance.

Hrithik’s journey to becoming the Bollywood superstar he is today was not an easy one. Rakesh, who has been a key figure in Hrithik’s career, also made a film, Koi… Mil Gaya, to showcase Hrithik’s acting talent. The film, which focused on a developmentally disabled boy, was a turning point in Hrithik’s career, not just because of its box-office success, but also because it demonstrated Hrithik’s versatility as an actor.

“I made Koi… Mil Gaya to show how good Hrithik is as an actor,” Rakesh said. “It was a big challenge for me, and I wanted to show his different sides in film.” Hrithik’s portrayal of the character Rohit in the film and his subsequent transformation into the superhero Krrish in Krrish (2006) and Krrish 3 (2013) solidified his place in the hearts of millions of fans.

Rakesh also reflected on the iconic Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, which marked Hrithik’s Bollywood debut, revealing how he showcased his son’s dual personalities on screen — one as a common man and another as a stylish, sophisticated individual.

On the much-anticipated Krrish 4, Rakesh revealed, “It is almost ready, and I will be announcing it very soon.” The upcoming film promises to continue the legacy of the Krrish series, one of the most successful superhero franchises in Bollywood.

Additionally, Rakesh shared his thoughts on Hrithik’s other projects, such as Kaabil (2017), where he played a blind man, and his constant desire to take on new and different roles. “As an actor, if Hrithik does something different, it inspires me as a filmmaker. It gives me sleepless nights, but that’s the challenge that pushes us forward.”

Rakesh, who won the Outstanding Achievement Award at IIFA 2025, has had a celebrated career in Bollywood, directing iconic films like Khoon Bhari Maang (1988), Karan Arjun (1995), and Koyla (1997), and he continues to be a significant force in the industry.

Recently, the Roshans docu-series, which features Rakesh, Hrithik, and Rajesh Roshan, was released on Netflix, offering fans an intimate look into the lives of the Roshan family, spanning three generations of contributions to Bollywood.

For Rakesh Roshan, the journey with his son has been one of challenges, growth, and immense pride, with Hrithik’s remarkable transformation from a boy struggling with speech to one of the biggest stars in Bollywood.