25 Years of Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai: Hrithik Roshan Saw the Last Grand Debut for Any Bollywood Superstar!

Hrithik Roshan's debut film, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, completes 25 years since its release today. In these 25 years, it remains the only grand debut for any superstar (Movie Talkies).

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Sameer Ahire
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Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan

25 Years of Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

25 Years of Hrithik Roshan's grand debut Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai:

On this day in 2000, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai was released in cinemas, and the very next day, everyone was talking about Bollywood getting a "new superstar." Those talks have come true with Hrithik Roshan, and nobody else in the last 25 years. Hrithik remains the last superstar to deliver a mega blockbuster on debut in the last 25 years, in other words, this millennium, and he has come a long way, unlike short-term sensations.

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai had to succeed because Rakesh Roshan had lost money on Koyla in 1997 (despite a record-breaking opening). For Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, he spent 10 crores on production and promotions while mortgaging his house. He and Hrithik believed that this film had something special, and then, we all know what happened in the following weeks at the box office.

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai ended up collecting 44 crores nett and 74 crores gross at the Indian box office. The distributor's share was approximately 27 crores, and the rest of the profits (excluding tax and theatre service charges) allowed the Roshans to make a substantial amount of money and pay off the mortgage.  

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan

This blockbuster romantic drama featured super hit music—songs that are still remembered today. In my opinion, the best thing about the film! Hail Rajesh Roshan. Hrithik arrived as a complete superstar package, boasting good looks, fine acting skills, appealing expressions, a great physique, and excellent dancing abilities. That hook step from Ek Pal Ka Jeena became a sensation across the nation and overseas, and it remains popular even today. Be it award shows, dance reality programs, or events, Hrithik can never leave the stage without the audience requesting that "famous hook step."

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan

KNPH is everything that any superstar can expect from a debut film. Not only did it achieve box office success, but the film also created a craze at the time and kept it alive for several years through VCDs, music CDs, and television. Hrithik's blockbuster debut sold 3.06 crore tickets (footfalls) at the ticket windows, which remains the last 3 crore+ footfalls debut for any star in Bollywood.

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan

I have my own memories of the film. Since I couldn't watch it in the theater, my parents, uncle, and aunt went to see it and discussed it afterward. They were eagerly waiting for the TV premiere and VCD release, so they could watch it again and show it to me. Finally, it happened after months, and I watched the movie on VCR with five neighboring families coming together to enjoy it. Some scenes have become a part of my childhood memories, despite my lack of knowledge about movies back then. I even tried to make an omelet the way Hrithik did in the film and failed miserably. That cruise party scene, lipstick, hankerchief, island, Amit's three fingers trick (how we take screenshot these days) and many more in the memory catalogue. That bike accident scene made us kids emotional, as every time we saw anyone riding a bike, we remembered Rohit's death scene. I may have a different opinion about the film today as I have also come a long way as a movie lover, but KNPH remains in our memories and probably stands as the last true sensational blockbuster by Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan (solo).

"Media helped me become the human and actor that I am," says Hrithik Roshan on completing 25 years in the industry —

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Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan Rakesh Roshan