Hrithik Roshan recalls father’s financial crisis after Koyla setback

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has opened up about one of the most emotional periods in his family’s life, recalling the financial difficulties his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, faced following the commercial disappointment of Shah Rukh Khan’s 1997 film Koyla.

The 52-year-old actor recently spoke about his father’s struggles and revealed that there was a time when Rakesh Roshan lost a significant portion of the money he had earned throughout his career. According to Hrithik, the setback was severe enough to create financial difficulties for the family and left a lasting impression on him.

Recalling the difficult period, Hrithik said he still remembers a particular morning when he saw his father with tears in his eyes for the first time. The actor explained that Rakesh Roshan had told him that he had lost all the money he had earned.

For Hrithik, witnessing his father in such a vulnerable state was an experience he could never forget. He described the moment as extremely emotional because he had never previously seen his father so broken and distressed.

Rakesh Roshan had produced Koyla under his production banner Filmkraft Productions. The action thriller featured Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles, alongside Amrish Puri, Deepa Sahi, Ashok Saraf, Johnny Lever and several other prominent actors.

Released in 1997, Koyla revolved around Shankar, played by Shah Rukh Khan, a mute and loyal coal miner who works in a coal mine. The film combined action, romance and drama and was one of the major productions associated with Rakesh Roshan’s production house at the time.

Despite its scale and star-studded cast, the film failed to achieve the level of commercial success that had been expected. It was reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 12 crore and earned approximately Rs 28 crore worldwide. Although the film recovered a significant amount at the box office, its overall commercial performance was considered disappointing in relation to its investment and expectations.

The experience became an important chapter in Hrithik Roshan’s understanding of his father’s professional and personal journey. Years later, the actor has established himself as one of Bollywood’s leading stars, while Rakesh Roshan has continued to remain an influential filmmaker and producer.

The father-son duo is now preparing to return to the superhero franchise that has been closely associated with their careers. Hrithik and Rakesh Roshan are currently involved in preparations for Krrish 4, the next installment in the popular superhero series.

Hrithik’s recent recollection offers a rare glimpse into the challenges his family faced behind the glamour of Bollywood and highlights the personal impact that professional setbacks can have, even on established filmmakers.