I have a mission to be the happiest man in the world: Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan has always been a good looking guy, it was not as if he was dunked in a tub of pretty just for Bang Bang! But anyone who has seen the film is gushing about how hot he is looking in the film -- with or without his shirt. So what has changed? A young filmmaker from the industry has a theory, "It is Hrithik's suddenly single image that is making him extra desireable." Despite the poor reviews, the crowds are thronging to the theatres just to see Hrithik. The actor is looking relaxed and happy, when I meet him early morning at his house for a tete-e-tete. Excerpts from the interview...

What reactions are you getting for Bang Bang!
Great. Different in a sense. The kind I have missed actually. And of course the numbers mostly say it all. Breaking Krrish 3's 1st day record was surprisingly good. That's one way you can assess growth and progress. Apart from that getting all the love is also great. The credit goes to the entire team.

BB is just your 18th film. Why have you done few films in this year?
Its funny, because I did Bang Bang as a quickie, but things sometimes don't go as planned! I guess the kind of movies I have chosen take time. But it's not a conscious decision to do less, I'm always on the look out for better quicker movies, ensemble films and even two hero films, small films I'm open to all. I remember back in 2004, I didn't face the camera the entire year. For the first 3 years, I had drained myself out. I never took an off for a single day. It was after Lakshya got over, I went for a vacation. I felt so depleted and monotonous that I wasn't interested in doing another film at all. So I took that year to fill myself up again. Learnt a lot. Like the fact that you must kill the monotony before it murders the enthusiasm!

So what did you do?
I didn't do much. Just a lot of thinking. But when dad got the idea of sequel for Koi Mil Gaya that is Krrish, then that excitement came back, the paradox of a superhero excited me cause he is someone who is fantastic but has equally powerful weaknesses.

So during that entire year, you said no to whatever came to you?
Yeah, I was not interested in reading scripts. I just took that time off until dad got the idea of Krrish. That motivated me again.

Do you think you can take a year off now?
I don't think so. I would never repeat my mistakes.

Why do you think it was a mistake?
Mistake was to be working for every single day for 3 years. Do not deplete yourself. It's very important to have variety. That's what I do now. I make time for lot of things in my life. Not just work related, but in every aspect.

When a film of your releases, what is most important for you - Is it that you are happy, or box office results, or is the feedback from the masses?
One of the things is that when I see the first copy, I must like it and enjoy. That is my greatest satisfaction, once that is done, then I relax. Through my films, my intention is to inspire and aspire people, entertain them, give them some kind of a vision. And if that is met and I get good feedback, then it's a icing on the cake.

So apart from you, whose opinions matter to you?
The audience at large. every individual would have a different opinion. So I basically, go by my instinct and then I compare that to audience's opinions at large, which comes through collections or reactions in the theatre. Apart from that I was really nervous this time after my children saw the film, because they were really excited after they saw the promos. Thankfully they enjoyed the movie immensely! That was my biggest joy.

When you came up with this whole idea of Bang Bang Dare, did you hesitate at first thinking that your co-actors would take it up or like the idea of promoting another actor's film?
I didn't even think for once how I'd feel if someone didn't take it up. I didn't do it as a strategy, I did it for pure fun. I knew everyone would come forward because everyone deep inside wants to be here for each other. And because that is my model of the world I believe in, it manifested in such a beautiful fun way. If I had done this with wrong intention, it would never have worked.

It worked big time!
I hope it goes down as an example in the history of cinema. It dis-empowered the thought that there is bad rivalry in our industry and people are trying pull each other down. I don't think it's true. And just because I don't believe in that thought, I could make this happen.

You keep pushing yourself when it comes to your physique. What's next?
This is off-season body. I can have some fun. I had some samosas last night. I enjoyed them. I have been having pizza and stuff. So it's nice little break from my diet.

You were not in the best frame of mind while shooting Bang Bang. Did it affect your work at all?
There was a point when I thought that it was not the best thing for me to face the camera because of the state of mind and my health issues. But then again, I asked myself, if I can overcome this, how great I will feel at the end of this challenge. So that empowered me. Instead of looking for encouragement, I became the source of it. If there is something you want to feel, give it, and it will come back to you instantly. It works.

Talking of variety, now that you are a single man, is there a lot of that happening?
Honestly, I don't know what it is like to be single. But whatever life throws at me I promise to make the best of it. No matter what.

Do you see yourself getting married again?
Right now I am focused on my kids and work. But I am sure of one thing, I have a mission of being the happiest man in the world and I am gonna achieve that. Some winters may last long but eventually the sun comes out. I am going to be an example of the utmost magnificent life you can ever hope to achieve.

What are you gonna do for next four weeks before you get onto your next film?
I definitely want to travel. I want to take some days off. It's filled with some endorsement shoots. And Bang Bang is still not done. It's our baby and we have to nurture it.

You have been spending a lot of time with your kids these days. Is it because you didn't have much time with them earlier...
I had more time with them earlier. When we lived together, obviously I had more time . Right now I have less time with them. But I have more quality fun. As a father I must be an example to face adversity with strength. Distance doesn't matter.