Rakesh Roshan
Rakesh Roshan is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Rakesh Roshan began their career in 1979 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 47 years. With over 60 credits to their name, Rakesh Roshan remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 40+ years, Rakesh Roshan's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
- Age
- 76
Biography
Rakesh Roshan is a Hindi cinema actor, director, and producer, born on 6 September 1949, who built a prolific acting career across 84 films during the 1970s and 1980s. As an actor, he appeared in notable films including Khubsoorat (1980), Kaamchor (1982), and Hamari Bahu Alka (1982), often playing lead romantic roles opposite actresses like Hema Malini and Rekha. He later transitioned to directing and producing, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director for Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) and Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), which launched his son Hrithik Roshan's career. His production company Filmkraft is responsible for the Krrish franchise, cementing his legacy as one of Hindi cinema's most influential filmmaker-producers.
Career Milestones
Acting debut in Bollywood
Founded Filmkraft Productions, transitioning from actor to producer
Produced first major hit as producer
View film →Directorial debut with Khudgarz
Produced blockbuster Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, launching son Hrithik Roshan
Iconic Roles
Khubsoorat
One of four sons in the family, portrayed as a charming and sincere gentleman. The film was a major commercial and critical success, winning Best Film at the 28th Filmfare Awards in 1981.
Jeet Hamaari
One of his notable character roles during his acting career in the early 1980s, a period when he was active in supporting and lead roles across mainstream Hindi cinema.
Defining Moments
Ensemble comedic role in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's beloved classic, supporting Rekha in one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated comedy-dramas
His willingness to take supporting roles in heroine-driven films by prestige directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee distinguished him from ego-driven contemporaries and broadened his reputation
View film →Playing the lazy, work-shirking husband opposite Jaya Prada in a comedic yet emotionally layered performance that showcased his range beyond typical hero roles
Widely cited as his finest acting performance; he played against type in a heroine-centric film directed by K. Viswanath and the film became a superhit, cementing his reputation as a versatile character actor
View film →Directing and producing the revenge thriller with Rekha in a double role — a film that became a landmark in Indian revenge-drama cinema
His directorial debut that earned him his first Best Film and Best Director nominations; marked his successful pivot from actor to filmmaker
Directing the blockbuster two-hero reincarnation action film starring Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, one of the biggest hits of the decade
Established him as a top-tier Bollywood director capable of handling mega-star productions; the film's iconic dialogues and scenes remain culturally referenced to this day
Launching son Hrithik Roshan's career with a record-breaking debut, producing and directing a film that created one of Bollywood's biggest superstars overnight
One of the most celebrated father-son moments in Bollywood history; the film broke multiple box office records and is frequently cited as a landmark launch in Hindi cinema
Rakesh Roshan by the Numbers
If you watched every Rakesh Roshan film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 4 days and 23h. Most-paired with Mithun Chakraborty — 6 films together.
Filmography
See all 60 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Rakesh Roshan.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Rakesh Roshan has worked most frequently with K. Vishwanath (3 films), J. Om Prakash (2 films), Mithun Chakraborty (6 films), Rekha (5 films), and Sujit Kumar (5 films).
Did You Know?
Rakesh Roshan is the father of actor Hrithik Roshan.
He began his career as an assistant director and later became an actor.
He is the brother of music director Rajesh Roshan.
He transitioned from acting to directing and producing successful films.
He founded Filmkraft Productions (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Family
Child
Hrithik Roshan
Legacy & Influence
Rakesh Roshan's contribution to Indian cinema is a remarkable journey of reinvention, transitioning from a popular actor to a pioneering filmmaker and producer. As an actor in the 1970s and 80s, he starred in numerous films, often in romantic or action-oriented roles, becoming a familiar face in mainstream Hindi cinema. However, his true and enduring legacy was forged behind the camera. Founding Filmkraft Productions, he emerged as a visionary director and producer who significantly shaped the commercial Hindi film landscape from the 1990s onwards. His directorial work is characterized by a keen understanding of mass entertainment, blending high-concept narratives with strong emotional cores, family values, and technical polish. He played a crucial role in launching and solidifying the superstar status of his son, Hrithik Roshan, with the groundbreaking film 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' (2000), a massive commercial success that redefined launch vehicles for new actors. Roshan is best known for creating the iconic 'Krrish' franchise, India's first successful superhero film series. Beginning with 'Koi... Mil Gaya' (2003), which ingeniously combined science fiction with emotional drama, he demonstrated ambition to expand the genre boundaries of Bollywood. The film's success and its sequels, 'Krrish' (2006) and 'Krrish 3' (2013), proved the viability of homegrown superhero spectacles and inspired a wave of bigger-budget, VFX-driven projects in the industry. His filmography, including hits like 'Karan Arjun' (1995) and 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai', is noted for memorable music and chart-topping soundtracks, often in collaboration with composers like Rajesh Roshan, underscoring the importance of music in his cinematic storytelling. As a producer, he has backed ambitious projects that balance scale with mainstream appeal. Rakesh Roshan's legacy is that of a commercially astute filmmaker who consistently pushed for higher production values, embraced new genres, and created enduring pop-culture icons, leaving a distinct mark on the modern Bollywood blockbuster template.