Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan recently opened up about his son, Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan’s long battle with stammering. In an interview with ANI, Rakesh shared how Hrithik faced immense challenges due to his speech impediment and recalled a time when the actor struggled to say a simple phrase at a public event in Dubai.
Hrithik Roshan’s speech struggles
Reflecting on his son’s difficulties, Rakesh told ANI, “I used to feel bad. He wants to say so many things. He is so well-educated and very intelligent. But he used to hold himself back because of his stuttering. Once, I remember that he was in Dubai, and he wanted to just say thank you, Dubai. And he used to get stuck on the word D...”
The filmmaker further recalled an instance when Hrithik was so determined to overcome his speech issue that he locked himself inside a bathroom just to practice saying two sentences fluently. “He has locked himself inside the bathroom. To learn those two sentences by heart, to say thank you, Dubai. So I used to feel bad, that he is such a progressive man, but something is holding him back.”
Hrithik’s journey with speech therapy
However, Hrithik did not let the speech disorder define him. Rakesh shared that his son dedicated himself to overcoming the issue through rigorous self-training. “He worked so hard on it. He would wake up in the morning and read the newspaper for an hour in English, Hindi, and Urdu. And now he doesn’t stutter. For the last 10, 12, 14 years.”
Hrithik has previously spoken about how challenging it was to deal with stammering during his childhood, especially in school. The actor, known for his resilience, worked extensively on his speech therapy and has since overcome the impediment, making him an inspiration for many who face similar struggles.
On the work front
Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik have worked together on multiple blockbuster films, including 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' (2000), 'Koi Mil Gaya' (2003), and the 'Krrish' franchise. Their collaborations have been highly successful, with the Krrish series being one of India’s most beloved superhero sagas.
Recently, 'The Roshans', a docu-series featuring Hrithik, Rakesh, and music director Rajesh Roshan, premiered on Netflix. Directed by Shashi Ranjan, the series provides a deep dive into the Roshan family’s legacy in Bollywood, tracing their journey across three generations.