Rakesh Roshan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Roshan in 2025 | |
| Born | Rakesh Roshan Nagrath (1949-09-06)6 September 1949 (age 76)[1] Bombay,Bombay State, India |
| Other names | Guddu[2] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Organisation | Filmkraft Productions |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingHrithik Roshan |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Roshan family |
Rakesh Roshan Nagrath (born 6 September 1949)[1] is an Indianfilm producer, director,screenwriter and actor who works inHindi films.[3] He appeared in 84 films in the 1970s and 1980s. As anactor, he is mostly known for his supporting roles in big-budget films. Later, his prominence increased and he achieved fame for directing films with titles beginning with the letter "K" since 1987.
As a filmmaker, his work includes the action dramaKhudgarz (1987), the revenge drama thrillerKhoon Bhari Maang (1988), the action comedyKishen Kanhaiya (1990), the melodramatic thrillerKaran Arjun (1995), the musical romantic thrillerKaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), the science fiction filmKoi... Mil Gaya (2003) and its sequels, the superheroKrrish film series (2006–13). He has won theFilmfare Award for Best Film andBest Director forKaho Naa... Pyaar Hai andKoi... Mil Gaya.
In 2025,Netflix released a four-part documentary series titledThe Roshans. The series traces the artistic lineage from composerRoshan Lal Nagrath to his sons Rakesh Roshan andRajesh Roshan, and to actorHrithik Roshan,[4] reflecting on how the family’s creative output helped shape mainstream Bollywood music and cinema.[5][6][7]
Rakesh was born on 6 September 1949[1] to IndianPunjabi music director,Roshan Lal Nagrath andBengali singer,Ira Moitra. His younger brother isRajesh Roshan.[8]
After his father's untimely death, Rakesh started his career as an assistant director to filmmaker Mohan Kumar in films likeAnjaana starringRajendra Kumar andBabita. Rajendra Kumar referred him to some filmmakers and thus he was signed by Soodesh Kumar forMan Mandir starringSanjeev Kumar andWaheeda Rehman. As an actor, he made his debut in the 1970 filmGhar Ghar Ki Kahani, in which he got a supporting role.[9]
Rakesh got very few solo hero films in his career. He got such roles in more women-oriented films, such asParaya Dhan withHema Malini,[10]Aankh Micholi with Bharati,Khubsoorat with Rekha andKaamchor withJaya Prada. His few successful solo hero films, with the focus equally on both hero and heroine, wereAankhon Aankhon Mein with Rakhee,[11]Nafrat withYogita Bali,Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara withLeena Chandavarkar,Hamari Bahu Alka with Bindiya Goswami andShubh Kaamna withRati Agnihotri.J. Om Prakash producedAankhon Aankhon Mein with Rakesh in the lead. Later, J. Om Prakash directedAakraman, with Sanjeev Kumar in the lead, and had Rakesh in a supporting role, and then producedAakhir Kyun?, with Rajesh Khanna in the lead and Rakesh in a supporting role.
Rakesh played supporting roles in a few successful films such asMan Mandir with Sanjeev Kumar in the lead,Khel Khel Mein with Rishi Kapoor in the lead,[12]Bullet withDev Anand as the hero,[13]Hatyara withVinod Khanna in the lead,Dhongee withRandhir Kapoor,Khandaan withJeetendra andNeeyat withShashi Kapoor as the lead hero. He played supporting roles regularly in films withRajesh Khanna in the lead role and of those,Chalta Purza was a failure and the other three were blockbusters -Dhanwan,Awaaz andAakhir Kyon?. The few multi-star cast films he was part of as the lead hero that were successful between 1977 and 1986 wereDevata,Shriman Shrimati andHaathkadi, all of which had Sanjeev Kumar as the main lead hero andJaag Utha Insan andEk Aur Sikander, which had Mithun Chakraborty in the main lead, and other hits such asDil Aur Deewaar,Khatta Meetha,Unees-Bees (1980) andMaqaar (1986). Most of his other films as a second lead hero or solo hero films between 1973 and 1990 were box office flops.
Rakesh set up his own production company, Filmkraft, in 1980 and their first production wasAap Ke Deewane (1980), which was a box office flop. His next venture wasKaamchor, also produced by him, which became a hit, but the success of this film was attributed to its music and the heroineJaya Prada. His next solo hero filmShubh Kaamna, directed byK. Vishwanath, was a hit. He tried to re-launch himself as a lead hero withBhagwaan Dada (1986), directed by J. Om Prakash and starringRajinikanth as the main lead and himself in the second lead. But the film was a flop. Between 1984 and 1990 he only got supporting roles, with the exception ofBahurani. The multi-star films where he was the second lead, such asMaqaar andEk Aur Sikander were successful. His last film as a leading hero wasBahurani, which was a woman-oriented film starring Rekha in the lead, which was directed by Manik Chatterjee and released in 1989.
Rakesh made his directorial debut with the action dramaKhudgarz (1987), starringJeetendra,Shatrughan Sinha,Govinda,Bhanupriya,Amrita Singh andNeelam Kothari. The film emerged as a huge commercial success at the box-office.
He next directed the revenge drama thrillerKhoon Bhari Maang (1988), starringRekha alongsideKabir Bedi andSonu Walia. The film received highly positive reviews upon release, and became a major commercial success at the box-office. It was also noted as a path-breaking film, emerging as one of the first successful films with the heroine as the central protagonist. The film also earned Rekha her secondFilmfare Award for Best Actress, in addition to Roshan's first nominations forBest Film andBest Director. He followed it up with the action comedyKishen Kanhaiya (1990), starringAnil Kapoor in dual roles, alongsideMadhuri Dixit andShilpa Shirodkar.
His next directorial venture was the romantic comedyKhel in 1992 starring anensemble cast of Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit,Anupam Kher,Mala Sinha and Sonu Walia in lead roles and action comedyKing Uncle in 1993 starring an ensemble cast ofJackie Shroff,Anu Aggarwal,Shah Rukh Khan,Nagma andParesh Rawal in lead roles. BothKhel andKing Uncle were commercially successful and have since gained cult status, being well received by families and children.King Uncle was one of few early successful films in which Shah Rukh Khan played a supporting role or second lead. It is also first film of Rakesh Roshan with Shah Rukh Khan.
His next directorial venture was the melodramatic thrillerKaran Arjun (1995), starringRaakhee Gulzar,Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan,Kajol,Mamta Kulkarni andAmrish Puri in lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics, and emerged as a blockbuster at the box-office, ranking as thesecond-highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It also earned Roshan his second nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director.
He next directed the action thrillerKoyla (1997), starring Shah Rukh and Dixit. The film received mixed reviews from critics, and emerged as an average grosser at the box-office, ranking as theninth highest-grossing Indian film of the year.
On 21 January 2000, Roshan was shot at by twoBudesh gang members near his office on Tilak Road atSantacruz, Mumbai.[14] The assailants fired two bullets at him, one of which hit him on the left arm, while the other grazed his chest. As the director fell to the ground, the assailants fled the scene.[15] The culprits were later identified as Sunil Vithal Gaikwad and Sachin Kamble. The attack on Rakesh was not undertaken with the intent to kill, but to signal that theShiv Sena could no longer protect its clients. Rakesh had stonewalled demands from Budesh for a percentage of the profits from the overseas earnings of his hit filmKaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.[16]
He launched his son Hrithik's career as a lead actor with the musical romantic thrillerKaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), alongside debutanteAmeesha Patel. Rakesh later revealed that this film was inspired byShakti Samanta'sAradhana (1969), starringSharmila Tagore andRajesh Khanna.[17] The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as thesecond highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It won Rakesh his first Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director, in addition to entering theLimca Book of Records for the most awards won by a Bollywood film.
He directed his son again, alongside Rekha andPreity Zinta, in the 2003 science-fiction filmKoi... Mil Gaya. The first installment of theKrrish franchise, the film opened to positive reviews, with particular praise for its novel concept, and emerged as thesecond highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It earned Rakesh his second consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director.[18]
He directed his son for the third time in its sequel, the science-fictionsuperhero filmKrrish (2006), alongsidePriyanka Chopra, Rekha andNaseeruddin Shah. The film received positive reviews upon release, and emerged as a trend-setter, bringing in Hindi cinema's first superhero. It emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, ranking as thesecond highest-grossing Indian film of the year.Krrish earned Rakesh his fifth nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director.[19]
In 2008, he produced the comedy thrillerKrazzy 4 which marked his first production-only venture. Directed by Jaideep Sen and starringJuhi Chawla,Arshad Warsi,Irrfan Khan,Rajpal Yadav andSuresh Menon,[20] the film received negative reviews and emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.[21]
In 2010, he produced the Bollywood-meets-Hollywood crossover film titledKites, directed byAnurag Basu and starring Hrithik alongsideMexican actressBárbara Mori. Despite hype prior to release, the film received mixed-to-negative reviews upon release, and emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.[22] Another version of this film was released internationally and known asBrett Ratner presentsKites: The Remix. This version was shorter, and mainly toned down the amount of musical numbers.
His next directorial wasKrrish 3 (2013), the third film of theKrrish franchise. With Hrithik and Chopra reprising their roles from the previous film, it also starsVivek Oberoi andKangana Ranaut. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, ranking as thethird highest-grossing Indian film of the year.[23]
In 2017, he produced the romantic action thrillerKaabil, starring Hrithik alongsideYami Gautam. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as an average grosser at the box-office.[24]
He is next set to directKrrish 4, with Hrithik and Priyanka Chopra reprising their roles. However, the film has been delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[25]
Rakesh is married to Pinkie Roshan, daughter ofJ. Om Prakash. They have two children, Sunaina Roshan andHrithik Roshan.[26]
In January 2019, Rakesh was diagnosed with early-stagesquamous cell carcinoma of thethroat.[27]
| Year | Film | Role | Producer | Director | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani | Suresh |  Y | ||
| 1971 | Man Mandir | Ramu | Y | ||
| Paraya Dhan | Shankar | Y | |||
| Seema | Y | ||||
| 1972 | Aankhon Aankhon Mein | Rakesh Rai | Y | ||
| Aankh Micholi | Ravi | Y | |||
| Buniyaad | Ajit Kumar | Y | |||
| 1973 | Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara | Harish Bhatia | Y | ||
| Nafrat | Prakash | Y | |||
| 1974 | Goonj | Rakesh Kumar | Y | ||
| Pugli | Raja | Y | |||
| Trimurti | Nandu | Y | |||
| Madhosh | Goldie | Y | |||
| 1975 | Khel Khel Mein | Vikram "Vicky" | Y | ||
| Aakraman | Lieutenant Sunil Mehra | Y | |||
| Zakhmee | Amar | Y | |||
| 1976 | Bullet | Inspector Rajesh | Y | ||
| Ginny Aur Johnny | Y | ||||
| Raeeszada | Y | ||||
| 1977 | Anand Ashram | Dr. Prakash | Y | ||
| Chalta Purza | Inspector Sunil Verma | Y | |||
| Priyatama | Rakesh | Y | |||
| Hatyara | Inspector Prakash | Y | |||
| Haiwan | Y | ||||
| 1978 | Aahuti | Bharat Prasad | Y | ||
| Dil Aur Deewaar | Chandu | Y | |||
| Khatta Meetha | Firoz Sethna | Y | |||
| Devata | George | Y | |||
| 1979 | Ganga Aur Geeta | Friendly Appearance | Y | ||
| Jhoota Kahin Ka | Vijay Rai / Vikram | Y | |||
| Dhongee | Inspector Thapa | Y | |||
| Khandaan | Rakesh | Y | |||
| Prem Jaal | Mahendra | Y | |||
| Ikraar | Hero | Y | |||
| Aangan Ki Kali | Anmol | Y | |||
| 1980 | Aap Ke Deewane | Rahim | Y | Y | |
| Unees-Bees | Dev | Y | |||
| Neeyat | Ajay | Y | |||
| Pyaara Dushman | Raja | Y | |||
| Khubsoorat | Indra Gupta | Y | |||
| 1981 | Bhula Na Dena | Arun | Y | ||
| Naari | Y | ||||
| Daasi | Anup | Y | |||
| Dhanwan | Anil | Y | |||
| Hotel | Vijay | Y | |||
| Haqdaar | Rakesh | Y | |||
| Jeene Ki Arzoo | Ravi | Y | |||
| 1982 | Haathkadi | Baldev Mittal | Y | ||
| Vakil Baboo | Prem Oberoi | Y | |||
| Teesri Ankh | Anand | Y | |||
| Hamari Bahu Alka | Pratapchand | Y | |||
| Jeevan Dhaara | Kamal Pal Singh | Y | |||
| Shriman Shrimati | Rajesh Kumar | Y | |||
| Kaamchor | Suraj | Y | Y | ||
| Waqt Waqt Ki Baat | Inspector Shankar | Y | |||
| Baawri | Shyam Bhardwaj | Y | |||
| Begunaah Qaidi | Y | ||||
| 1983 | Shubh Kaamna | Ratan | Y | ||
| Jeet Hamaari | Anand | Y | |||
| 1984 | Main Qatil Hoon | Y | |||
| Hanste Khelte | Rakesh | Y | |||
| Awaaz | Inspector Vijay Gupta | Y | |||
| Zindagi Jeene Ke Liye | Ashok | Y | |||
| Jaag Utha Insan | Brahmanand Chaturvedi "Nandu" | Y | Y | ||
| 1985 | Pyaase Honth | Y | |||
| Bahu Ki Awaaz | Vimal Srivastav | Y | |||
| Mahaguru | Subhash | Y | |||
| Aakhir Kyon? | Kabir Suri | Y | |||
| Zulm Ka Badla | Inspector Anil Verma | Y | |||
| Patthar Dil | Chandar | Y | |||
| Kaala Sooraj | Inspector Pratap Singh | Y | |||
| Haveli | Kumar Saxena | Y | |||
| 1986 | Maqaar | Y | |||
| Khamosh Nigahen | Y | ||||
| Bhagwaan Dada | Swaroop | Y | Y | ||
| Ek Aur Sikander | Inspector Amar Verma | Y | |||
| Anubhav | Amit Kumar | Y | |||
| 1987 | Mera Yaar Mera Dushman | Ashok | Y | ||
| Daku Hasina | S.P. Ranjeet Saxena | Y | |||
| Khudgarz | Y | Y | |||
| 1988 | Ramkudi Jhamkudi | Y | |||
| Be Lagaam | Y | ||||
| Paigham | Naasir Khaan | Y | |||
| Khoon Bhari Maang | Vikram Saxena | Y | Y | Y | |
| 1989 | Bahurani | Amit Chaudhary | Y | ||
| Kala Bazaar | Y | ||||
| 1990 | Shararat | Guest Role | Y | ||
| Kishen Kanhaiya | Y | Y | |||
| 1992 | Khel | Tara Jaisingh's Manager | Y | Y | |
| 1993 | King Uncle | Y | Y | ||
| 1995 | Pyar Do Pyar Lo | Himself | Y | ||
| Karan Arjun | Y | Y | |||
| Akele Hum Akele Tum | Paresh Kapoor | Y | |||
| 1996 | Aurat Aurat Aurat | Rakesh "Guddu" | Y | ||
| 1997 | Koyla | Y | Y | ||
| 1997 | Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha | Y | |||
| 1999 | Mother | Amar Khanna | Y | ||
| 2000 | Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai | Y | Y | ||
| Karobaar | Y | ||||
| 2003 | Koi... Mil Gaya | Sanjay Mehra | Y | Y | Y |
| 2006 | Krrish | Y | Y | Y | |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | Himself | Y | ||
| 2008 | Krazzy 4 | Y | |||
| 2010 | Kites | Y | |||
| 2013 | Krrish 3 | Sanjay Mehra | Y | Y | Y |
| 2017 | Kaabil | Y |
As a director, Rakesh is known for making films with his sonHrithik Roshan and having music directed by his younger brotherRajesh Roshan. Other actors he has frequently collaborated with includeRekha,Madhuri Dixit,Anil Kapoor,Shah Rukh Khan, andAmrish Puri. All of the films he has directed, have their titles start with the letter 'K'.
 | This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful.(August 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Year | Film | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Koi Mil Gaya | National Film Awards | Best Film on Social Issues |
| 2001 | Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai | Filmfare Awards | Best Film |
| Best Director | |||
| 2004 | Koi Mil Gaya | Best Film | |
| Best Director | |||
| 2001 | Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai | IIFA Awards | Best Film |
| Best Director | |||
| 2004 | Koi Mil Gaya | ||
| 2007 | Krrish | Creative Person of the Year | |
| 2009 | Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Koi Mil Gaya | Golden Decade Honour for Best Director | |
| 2001 | Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai | Zee Cine Awards | Best Film |
| Best Director | |||
| 2004 | Koi Mil Gaya | Best Film | |
| Best Director | |||
| Apsara Awards | Best Film | ||
| Best Director | |||
| 2015 | - | Lifetime Achievement Award | |
| 2001 | Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai | Bollywood Movie Awards | Best Film |
| Best Director |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
