Actor, producer, screenwriter, and director, Rakesh Roshan has donned many caps throughout his career. Son of noted music director, Roshanlal Nagrath, Rakesh Roshan appeared in almost 85 films, but as an actor, he was mostly seen in supporting roles. After his father’s untimely death, Rakesh Roshan started his career as an assistant director.
In 1970, Rakesh Roshan made his acting debut with the film, Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani, in which he starred in a supporting role. He rarely got any leading roles, and the ones he did were in women-oriented films like Paraya Dhan, Aankh Micholi, Khoobsurat, and a few others. His solo films never worked, so Rakesh and his family faced a lot of financial struggles.
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Throughout Rakesh’s lows, there was one person who stood by him like a rock, and it was none other than his wife, Pinkie Roshan. Despite hailing from an affluent family, Pinkie faced a lot of struggles after her marriage to Rakesh. Let us read about the couple’s beautiful love story.
Rakesh and Pinkie had one thing in common: they belonged to filmy families. Both Rakesh and Pinkie’s fathers were filmmakers. Pinkie’s dad, J. Om Prakash, used to visit Rakesh’s home for official meetings, and Pinkie would come along with him. Soon, Pinkie and Rakesh became good friends.
After Rakesh’s father's untimely death, Rakesh became the family's breadwinner and started his career as an assistant director. At the same time, Pinkie’s family was looking for an appropriate match for her. That was when her father decided on Rakesh as the prospective groom. In 1971, Rakesh and Pinkie tied the knot and began their forever journey. The couple was blessed with their daughter, Sunaina Roshan, in 1972 and son, Hrithik Roshan, in 1974.
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Rakesh Roshan’s career was going down, and the actor was giving back-to-back flops. It was just his formative years when he was struggling to be a good actor and filmmaker. Because of the constant flops, Rakesh faced a lot of financial constraints. However, Pinkie never lost hope in her husband’s calibre.
When Rakesh Roshan’s son and celebrated actor, Hrithik Roshan, appeared in the popular chat show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, the actor opened up about his father’s struggling days. Hrithik also revealed that the family didn’t have money even to pay the house rent. He further stated that his mother, Pinkie Roshan took him and his sister, Sunaina, to her parent’s house and his dad, Rakesh Roshan, had lived with his mother since he didn’t have enough money to buy a house for his family. In his words:
“Until the time my dad could earn enough money to buy another house. And then we shifted into another house which was barely just walls and floors. We slept on gaddas, these mats and slowly got the furniture in.”
In 1987, Rakesh Roshan made his directorial debut with the film, Khudgarz, which became a blockbuster. His next directorial was Khoon Bhari Maang, starring Rekha, which was another blockbuster. The film earned Rakesh his first nomination as the Best Director. Rakesh tasted tremendous success with films like Kishen Kanhaiya, Khel, and King Uncle.
In 1995, Rakesh Roshan’s next venture, Karan Arjun, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni, and Raakhee, was released and received huge applause. The film became the second-highest-grossing Indian film of the year.
In 2000, Rakesh Roshan was shot outside his office at Santacruz in Mumbai. Out of the many bullets, two hit Rakesh, one on his arm and another on his chest. In an interview with renowned American-British comedian, Ruby Wax, Hrithik talked in detail about the attack on his father, Rakesh Roshan and said:
"My father was in a lot of debt because we had borrowed a lot of money to make the film. The film struck big time--it was the biggest hit in the past five-six years. The one that made me a star (Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai). Just in the first week, this happened. They knew my father has hit big time, he is successful, money is going to come in. So they wanted money, we didn't pay. They shot him. Point blank."
Throughout all his struggles, it was Pinkie who stood like a rock for her husband, Rakesh Roshan. During his children’s growing years, Rakesh could not give his time to his kids, but Pinkie made sure to raise them well. In a throwback interview with a leading publication, Rakesh heaped praises on Pinkie and said:
“I took her to a two-room apartment where I lived with my parents and brother. She understood my frustrations. She went through the tough period with patience and was never demanding.”
In a world where relationships often end in the blink of an eye, Rakesh and Pinkie’s love for one another stood up against all the odds.
Also Read: Hrithik Roshan's Sister, Sunaina's Tragic Life: Two Failed Marriages, Cancer And Fallout With Family
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