Hrithik Roshan Biography: From Child Actor to Bollywood’s Greek God

October 24, 2026

Daniel Reed

Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor and dancer whose screen presence earned him the nickname “Greek God of Bollywood.” Born on January 10, 1974, in Mumbai, he went from a stammering schoolboy and child actor to a leading man with Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), the Krrish franchise and War (2019) — and in October 2026 he stole scenes again with a surprise cameo in Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2.

Quick Facts

Full name: Hritik Rakesh Nagrath (professionally Hrithik Roshan)
Born: January 10, 1974, Mumbai, India
Nationality: Indian
Occupation: Actor, dancer, producer, entrepreneur
Known for: Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Koi… Mil Gaya, Krrish, Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar, War, War 2, Jailer 2 cameo
Spouse/children: Married Sussanne Khan in 2000, divorced in 2014; two sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan

Early Life & Background

Hrithik Roshan was born into film: his father Rakesh Roshan is an actor-director, his mother Pinky Roshan is the daughter of director-producer J. Om Prakash, his grandfather Roshanlal Nagrath was a celebrated music composer, and his uncle Rajesh Roshan is a music director (Wikipedia; BookMyShow). He attended Bombay Scottish School in Mahim and Sydenham College, where he earned a commerce degree.

School was not easy. Roshan has spoken publicly about a childhood stammer and the daily speech therapy that gradually gave him confidence (BookMyShow; FilmyFocus). He also appeared on screen as a child, with small roles in the 1980s including Aasha (1980) and Bhagwaan Dada (1986), the latter opposite Rajinikanth — a connection that would come full circle forty years later.

Before his debut, he worked as an assistant director on his father’s films, including Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997) (Wikipedia).

Career: A Debut Like No Other

Roshan’s first leading role was in his father’s romantic thriller Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), a dual role opposite debutante Ameesha Patel. The film was a runaway success, and Roshan won both the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and for Best Male Debut — the only actor to win both for the same film, as Bollywood Hungama notes (Wikipedia; Bollywood Hungama). Fiza (2000) and the ensemble hit Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) followed, then a run of poorly received films.

The turnaround came with Koi… Mil Gaya (2003), in which he played Rohit Mehra, a developmentally disabled young man who befriends an alien. It won him two Filmfare Awards, relaunched his career and spawned the Krrish franchise (Krrish, 2006; Krrish 3, 2013) (Wikipedia). He then showed remarkable range: the army officer of Lakshya (2004), the thief of Dhoom 2 (2006), and Akbar in Jodhaa Akbar (2008), the last two each winning him Best Actor.

The 2010s kept the hits coming: Guzaarish (2010), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Agneepath (2012), the biopic Super 30 (2019), and the action blockbuster War (2019) opposite Tiger Shroff (Wikipedia). War became his highest-grossing film to that point and launched his Kabir character in Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe.

He returned as Kabir in War 2 (August 14, 2025), opposite Jr NTR — the biggest opener of his career (Current Affairs). Fighter (2024), Siddharth Anand’s aerial action film, had shown the same appetite for large-scale action.

The Jailer 2 Cameo — October 2026

Roshan’s most talked-about appearance of 2026 is also his briefest. In Jailer 2, released on October 15, 2026, he appears as Roddy in a cameo of roughly 15–20 minutes, arriving to rescue Rajinikanth’s Tiger Muthuvel Pandian at a crucial moment (India TV; The Telegraph). First-day viewers praised the entry as “pure fire,” while some critics felt it was too brief.

The cameo also closed a forty-year loop: as a child actor in Bhagwaan Dada (1986), Roshan had played Rajinikanth’s foster son, and in Jailer 2 he returned beside his old screen father as a full-grown action star (News24; Gulf News). For more on his co-star, see Rajinikanth’s biography.

Major Achievements

Roshan has won six Filmfare Awards from eighteen nominations: Best Actor for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Koi… Mil Gaya, Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar, Best Actor–Critics for Koi… Mil Gaya, and Best Male Debut for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (Wikipedia). From 2012 he appeared repeatedly on Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list, peaking at ninth in 2014. He co-founded HRX, the fitness brand Bollywood Hungama calls a leading actor-led venture, and in June 2026 signed with Anonymous Content for international ventures (Bollywood Hungama).

Personal Life

Roshan married Sussanne Khan in December 2000. They have two sons, Hrehaan (born 2006) and Hridhaan (born 2008), and divorced in 2014, co-parenting since (Wikipedia; MyStarsBio). A relationship with actor-musician Saba Azad has been reported since around 2022; it is noted as reported, not confirmed.

Net Worth Snapshot

As of October 2026, Hrithik Roshan’s fortune is put at ₹2,500 crore by the Hurun Rich List 2026, built on film fees, his HRX brand and endorsements. Read the full breakdown in Hrithik Roshan’s net worth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hrithik Roshan?

Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor born January 10, 1974, in Mumbai, known for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, the Krrish franchise, Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar and War. He has won six Filmfare Awards and co-founded HRX.

What is Hrithik Roshan’s role in Jailer 2?

Hrithik Roshan plays Roddy in Jailer 2 (2026), a 15–20 minute cameo rescuing Rajinikanth’s character. It reunites him with Rajinikanth forty years after he played the star’s foster son as a child actor in Bhagwaan Dada (1986).

How many Filmfare Awards has Hrithik Roshan won?

Six, from eighteen nominations: four Best Actor wins, one Best Actor–Critics win and one Best Male Debut win, all between 2000 and 2008.

Is Hrithik Roshan married?

No. He married Sussanne Khan in 2000, divorced in 2014, and they co-parent two sons. A relationship with Saba Azad has been reported since around 2022.