Hrithik Roshan recalls 'traumatising' school days, having a 'bad stammer', crying: 'I was so broken, that I would...'

Actor Hrithik Roshan has opened up about his childhood and said that his 'school days were very painful'. Recently, Hrithik said that he had a 'bad stammer' and very shy when he was young. Recalling that he had no friends, Hrithik said that he would cry after returning home from school. He also spoke about how doctors said he couldn't dance as there were problems with his spine. Hrithik spoke about how being told that he couldn't become an actor traumatised him. (Also Read | Hrithik Roshan says he 'learnt so much' watching the 'extraordinary' Kantara; praises Rishab Shetty's direction, acting)

Hrithik starred as a child in several movies such as Aap Ke Deewane (1980) and Bhagwaan Dada (1986). As an adult, he made his Bollywood debut with the hit romantic drama Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai in 2000 opposite Ameesha Patel. He then featured in Fiza, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish, Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar, Don 2, Bang Bang, Super 30 and War.

As quoted by Indian Express, Hrithik said, “I have sometimes felt that life is very unfair. In school, I had such a bad stammer that I couldn’t speak. I never had any friends, or girlfriends. I was very shy, and would come back from school and just cry. School days were very painful…on top of that, doctors told me that I couldn’t become an actor. There were problems with my spine, doctors said ‘you cannot dance’. I was so broken, that I would wake up for months, and would think it is a dream, a lucid dream. It was so heartbreaking and relive that feeling of knowing that I could not become an actor…I am disabled. So it was very traumatising.”

“Now when I look back, I thank god, thank you for giving me the problem where I could learn how to be strong, I learnt perseverance and if I did not have a broken spine and speech impediment…for the day to be there, you have to have the night. When problems come, it becomes a game. I can hold on to this thought that I can learn from this pain, and it can shape my character. I come out stronger,” he added.

Hrithik was recently seen in an action thriller film Vikram Vedha alongside Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte. Helmed by the director duo Pushkar-Gayatri, the film received positive feedback from the audience. He will be next seen in Fighter (2024), which also stars Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor.