Rakesh Roshan’s Bold Financial Gamble to Launch Hrithik Roshan
New Delhi | 25 April 2025 — Rakesh Roshan, a prominent Bollywood filmmaker, made significant personal sacrifices to launch his son Hrithik Roshan into the industry. As a director and producer, he faced immense financial challenges, particularly while working on Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, which marked Hrithik’s debut. In a candid reflection, Rakesh revealed that he mortgaged his house, cars, and office to fund the film, taking a massive financial risk in the hopes of securing Hrithik’s future in Bollywood.

When Rakesh Roshan decided to introduce Hrithik Roshan to the silver screen with the iconic film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), he took a massive financial gamble. To ensure his son’s debut was a success, Rakesh mortgaged his house, his cars, and even his office, risking everything he had built up in his career. The decision wasn’t just about money—it was about creating a future for Hrithik in Bollywood, a career Rakesh believed he could succeed in.

At the time, the stakes were incredibly high. Rakesh had already spent considerable time in the film industry, but this new venture was different. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai was a high-budget film, and there were no guarantees it would be a hit. “Had the film not done well, I would’ve had to face consequences,” Rakesh shared in a past interview, recalling the intense pressure he felt during that period. The sheer magnitude of the risk he took wasn’t lost on him, but he firmly believed that Hrithik had the talent to shine.
Despite the tension of those early days, Rakesh Roshan kept his struggles hidden from his family, maintaining a sense of normalcy at home. His children, Hrithik and Sunaina, had no idea about the hardships their father was going through behind the scenes. Rakesh’s focus remained on ensuring a peaceful childhood for his kids, never allowing the stress of his financial situation to affect their upbringing.
It was a calculated risk that eventually paid off. Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai became a massive hit, launching Hrithik into superstardom. Today, Hrithik’s success is a testament to his father’s belief in him and the lengths Rakesh was willing to go to for his family’s future.