Veteran filmmaker Rakesh Roshan , known for his remarkable contributions to Hindi cinema, has had a career spanning over five decades. He directed several iconic films, including 'Khoon Bhari Maang,' 'Khudgarz,' and 'Karan Arjun,' and played a pivotal role in launching his son Hrithik Roshan with ' Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai .' However, despite his many successes, he faced a particularly challenging phase following the release of his 1997 action-thriller 'Koyla.'

The film, which starred Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles, did not perform as expected at the box office, leading to severe financial losses for the filmmaker. Hrithik Roshan once shared that he saw his father in tears after suffering significant financial setbacks due to the film’s performance. During an interview with Komal Nahta for ETC Bollywood , Hrithik recalled three instances when he witnessed his father becoming emotional. Among those moments, one of the earliest was during the difficult period following Koyla’s release.

Hrithik recounted how his father lost all his savings, some of which he had invested, while another portion had been given to someone who later defaulted on repayment. The financial turmoil deeply affected Rakesh Roshan, and Hrithik vividly remembered seeing him overwhelmed with emotions during that time.

Apart from this, Hrithik also recalled two other emotional moments involving his father. The first was in 2000 when 'Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai' became a massive success, marking Hrithik’s debut as a leading actor. The overwhelming response to the film moved Rakesh Roshan to tears. The second instance occurred in 2013 when Hrithik underwent brain surgery, a challenging period for the family that once again left the filmmaker emotional.

Despite the difficulties that came with Koyla, Rakesh Roshan’s career continued to flourish. Interestingly, the role that eventually went to Shah Rukh Khan was initially offered to Sunny Deol, who declined it due to creative differences. Although Koyla was made on a budget of Rs 12 crore and earned Rs 28 crore worldwide, its underwhelming performance left the filmmaker in financial distress.

During the making of Koyla, Hrithik Roshan was still preparing for his acting career and had worked behind the scenes as an assistant director. Over the years, he established himself as one of Bollywood’s biggest stars. Currently, Hrithik is gearing up for War 2, the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War, directed by Ayan Mukerji. The film boasts a stellar cast, including Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor , and Jr. NTR, promising an action-packed spectacle for audiences.