Gajraj Rao stated that Rakesh offered the part to his son because he believed he would be suitable for it.
Krrish was released in 2006. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Krrish, the iconic Indian superhero portrayed by Hrithik Roshan, has become a household name. Despite the film’s success, director Rakesh Roshan faced criticism on social media for casting his son Hrithik over other actors in the franchise, which began with Koi..Mil Gaya (2003), followed by Krrish (2006) and Krrish 3 (2013). In light of this, actor Gajraj Rao has stepped forward to defend the filmmaker, praising his decision to cast Hrithik as the beloved superhero
During an interview with Filmygyan, Gajraj Rao stated that Rakesh offered the part to his son because he believed he would be suitable for it. While there were speculations that Shahid Kapoor would play Krrish, later on, Hrithik was finalised to play the part. “Unka paisa hai, unka kaam hai, unki creativity hai, uske andar Hrithik fit hota hai. Mujhey lagta hai ke bada jahalat hai iske andar. Repeat kuch nhi hota. Ye maker ki mehnat hai. (It’s his money, his work, his creativity, and Hrithik fits the role well. I believe it is a ridiculous statement to make. Nothing has been repeated; this is the maker’s hard work and vision.),” he said.
Gajraj Rao further emphasised that filmmaking is not a social obligation, and directors are under no obligation to cast actors based on external expectations. He drew a comparison to the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, who frequently worked with the same group of actors in his films. Rao pointed out that this consistent collaboration allowed for a stronger bond between the director and the actors, making it easier to communicate and execute scenes effectively. This, he argued, is why directors often choose to work with familiar faces.
Apart from the Krrish franchise, director Rakesh Roshan has also collaborated with Hrithik Roshan on films like Kaho Naa.. Pyaar Hai and Kaabil.
Earlier, Rakesh shared his plans for Krrish 4 with Hrithik, although an official announcement for the fourth installment is still awaited. In an interview with Gaana, the director spoke about the scale of the project, saying, “The scale of the film is huge. If I make it smaller, it will seem like an ordinary movie. The world has become smaller. Kids today have seen so many superhero films, and even a slight flaw will be criticized.”
As for Hrithik, he is set to star in the upcoming spy-thriller War 2, alongside Jr NTR and Kiara Advani. Directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Yash Raj Films, the film is scheduled to release on Independence Day 2025.
Meanwhile, Gajraj Rao was recently seen in the web series Dabba Cartel, co-starring Shabana Azmi, Jyothika, Shalini Pandey, and Sunil Grover. The show, which streamed on Netflix, received positive reviews for its engaging storyline and performances.
Gajraj Rao will next be seen in the comedy series Dupahiya, which is set to stream on Amazon Prime Video starting March 7.
