By Radhika Bhirani
New Delhi, May 28 (IANS): It's been a glorious journey of over four decades for Rakesh Roshan in the Hindi film industry. As an actor, writer, producer and director, he's worked his way hard to paint his own success story, and all at his own pace. Now, he is toying with the idea of penning an autobiography.
He believes it will be inspirational for many.
His daughter Sunaina, the elder of his two children, has encapsulated his life's journey - starting from when he was born in 1949, via a pictorial biography titled "To Dad, With Love".
She fetched old photographs from near and dear ones, and spoke at length to her father's family members, colleagues and co-actors to dig out more information and anecdotes related to her father, to be able to create "To Dad, With Love", which has been published by Om Books International.
Rakesh wasn't aware that Sunaina had been planning a book on him. But now he has plans to tell his own tale his way.
"This is the beginning. I am going to write an autobiography...there are a lot of experiences (that I want to share), and I believe people will learn a lot from them because I have learnt things in life in a very hard way and with a lot of hardwork," the 64-year-old told IANS in an interview here.
Looking his dapper self and sporting his usual humble demeanour, he added: "The harder the way you come up, the more things you will have to write."
Son of late Bollywood composer Roshan, the fair, handsome and light-eyed talent began his career by assisting directors like H.S.Rawail and Mohan Kumar.
His appealing looks landed him a spot in front of the camera. It was in 1970 that he made his acting debut with "Ghar Ghar Ki Kahaani", and he has since featured in over 80 entertainers, including "Khel Khel Mein", "Khubsoorat", "Khatta Meetha" and "Khoon Bhari Maang".
Filmmaking remained his first love, and it turned out to be most fruitful for him. In 1977, he launched Filmkraft Productions, under which he brought out movies like "Aap Ke Deewane", "Kaamchor" and "Bhagwan Dada".
The itch of being a director never left Rakesh, who, in 1987, went behind the camera for "Khudgarz". The 'K' factor didn't leave him too - from "Khoon Bhari Maang", "Kala Bazaar", "Kishen Kanhaiya", Karan Arjun" and "Koyla" to "Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai" and the popular Hindi superhero franchise, which started with "Koi...Mil Gaya" and went on to scale new heights with "Krrish" and "Krrish 3", each starring his son Hrithik Roshan.
In over 25 years of being a director, he has helmed just 13 films - a reminder of the fact that he works at his own pace, despite being in the rat race of Bollywood. He is still in no hurry to zero in on his next project.
"I am not in a hurry. Till I don't get a subject, I am not going to start anything. I only start a film when my heart or mind says, 'This is the right plot'. It may take one year, two years or may be even six months...I can't say," Rakesh said nonchalantly.
He says he has taken a break from the superhero genre for now.
"I want to make a simple film now. But if I don't get a plot for a simple film, which is a little different and challenges me to make it, then I will go back to the superhero genre. If I get a subject, which is different, difficult and yet easy at the same time, I will make it," he added.
Remakes?
"No, not remakes for me," he said promptly.
On an emotional note, he said he's currently enjoying the "best gift" that his family could ever give him - the book "To Dad, With Love".
Despite a successful career with movies which have turned out to be blockbusters, Rakesh said: "This (My children and the book) is my best earning without any investment."
"When I look at my children, I feel happy that they are so humble and hardworking and they respect their elders. I feel very proud."