Rakesh Roshan reveals Hrithik Roshan was told he couldn't build physique due to spinal problem

Filmmaker-actor Rakesh Roshan recently appeared on the singing reality show ‘Indian Idol’ and shared how Hrithik Roshan was cast in ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’. Rakesh directed the film which marked Hrithik's debut as a lead actor in Bollywood. The filmmaker revealed that doctors told Hrithik that he couldn't build up an impressive physique due to a health condition.

A clip of Rakesh Roshan from ‘Indian Idol’ has been shared by Sony with the caption, ‘Rakesh ji ne batayi Hrithik ki journey as a proud father (proud father Rakesh shares Hrithik's journey).’

Rakesh said he was thinking about his next project after ‘Koyla’ (1997) and whom to cast. ‘Mujhe kisine kaha ki isme koi naya ladka ho to acchha rahega, romantic film hogi. Hrithik bhi baedha hua tha, maine kaha Hrithik ko le lenge (someone told me to cast a new boy since it would be a romantic film. Hrithik was also there so I decided to cast him),’ he said.

Rakesh added, ‘He was very lean and thin, doctors told, ‘aap kabhi apni physique nahi bana sakte, aap dance nahi kar sakte kyunki aapke inherent kujh problem hai spinal cord mein (doctors said Hrithik can never make his physique because of an inherent problem in the spinal cord)'. But he challenged everything, he started exercising with books and slowly, slowly with books he came to dumbbells and dumbbells se usne fir ye sab apni physique banayi (then he made his physique).’

Last year, during a song launch, Hrithik too shared how doctors restricted him from doing action or dance films before the release of his debut film ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’ (2000).

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According to news agency ANI, he said, ‘Before the release of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai my doctors had told me that my health condition is not so good that I can do action films and dance films. I took this diagnosis as a challenge and focused on my health and fitness. I learnt how to do my work to the best of my abilities and I'm just happy to be here standing in front of you'll today. It is nothing short of a miracle for me that in my 25th film, I'm still doing action and I'm still dancing and I'm still being able to say my dialogues. I think the 21-year-old me, would be very proud of this me, today.’

Hrithik Roshan will now be seen in Siddharth Anand's ‘Fighter’ alongside Deepika Padukone.