Silver Lining

Even after 25 years as director, one thing that drives Rakesh Roshan is an extraordinary idea

He rejected three scripts for Krissh 3 before finally agreeing on the fourth. Instead of blindly banking on the popularity of the superhero he had created, Rakesh Roshan was looking for a story that would justify the need of a superhero in a film. "I am a meticulous producer and a hardworking director. A lot of money and manpower is at stake when one goes out and shoots. So I wanted to make sure I had an extraordinary idea for Krissh 3," explains filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, who even made storyboards and an animated feature before he began shooting the movie.

Perhaps it is this passion for filmmaking and quest for perfection that has fuelled Roshan's 25-year-long career as a director, and helped him succeed on several occasions. "I stand by my vision no matter how bleak it might sound to other people. On most occasions, I have been proven right. And even when things haven't gone as planned, at least I have the satisfaction of attempting something different, for instance, Kites," says Rakesh.

Rakesh's tryst with films began at an early age of 16. After his dad, music composer Roshan, passed away, he had two options — either join the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, or work as an assistant director. Roshan chose the latter, as this would allow him to continue staying with his mother and younger brother Rajesh (a popular music composer now).

As an assistant director for four years, he learnt the nuances of filmmaking. He was preparing to plunge headlong into the technical aspects of filmmaking when he got his first break as an actor in the Balraj Sahani-Nirupa Roy starrer Ghar Ghar Ki Kahaani (1970). "But my acting career saw more downs than ups. I tried time-and-again, but things didn't fall into place," he recollects.

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