"Dad gave me four months to get ready for my launch"
Hrithik has a very interesting tale to tell about his debut film, the one that changed his destiny. Recounts the heart throb, "I was assisting dad those days and dad was planning this particular film. We were working on the subject and dad wasn't sure about who to cast. He was toying with the idea of casting Shah Rukh or probably some other established star. After a couple of story discussions, I told dad during one of our brain storming sessions, 'Honestly, dad, I wouldn't want to see an actor like Shah Rukh in this role. It's a role which would suit a newcomer. The entire romantic teenage angle wouldn't be fair to an actor of Shah Rukh's calibre. And he's done roles like these before. So what's new?'
"Dad didn't say anything then but after some days he called me to his room to say, 'Son, I'm launching you in this film as a hero.' I was too shocked to react. I just walked out of the room in a daze. He followed me and asked me if I would do the film. I told him, 'OK, just give me some time to prepare. He gave me four months or so. I wanted to be completely prepared before I started shooting. The next day onwards, I joined Kishore Namit Kapoor's acting classes. I also joined Anupam Kher's workshop. I took diction classes, I had a Urdu teacher coming home to teach me. I met Salman Khan who took me in and helped me with my workouts. When I was set, I told dad, 'Ok, let's start shooting. I'm ready.'