Rakesh Roshan Strips Away Bollywood Glitter in Netflix’s Candid Family Series; ‘Krrish 4’ Announcement ‘Very Soon’

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From my perspective, what began as a crusade to preserve my father’s musical heritage morphed into an unforeseen, deeply personal account of one of Bollywood’s longest-standing film dynasties in “The Roshans.” This four-part Netflix documentary series offers a gripping insight into the challenges and victories spanning three generations within our family.

The project originated from an unexpected place – a widely used digital music player that failed to include the works and name of veteran filmmaker Rakesh Roshan‘s father in its library. “I wanted to listen to my father’s music one day, but I couldn’t find Roshan,” Rakesh recalled about an incident that happened almost a decade ago. “Surprisingly, every other contemporary musician’s name was there, but not my father’s,” he added. Despite reaching out to the company, the error has yet to be rectified. This incident sparked a thought in Rakesh: “What can I do for my father?

This catalyst sparked a remarkable undertaking, encompassing 300 hours of uncensored footage, skillfully compressed into just four hours of deeply revealing narrative. The documentary, orchestrated by Shashi Ranjan, transcends conventional industry recaps to expose the private hardships and victories of the family whose influence on Indian cinema spans an impressive 77 years.

This catalyst ignited a significant endeavor, comprising 300 hours of raw footage, meticulously edited down to four hours of profoundly personal storytelling. Directed by Shashi Ranjan, this documentary surpasses typical industry reviews by delving into the personal battles and triumphs that have defined Indian cinema for over 77 years.

For Rakesh Roshan, known for directing successful movies like the “Krrish” series, creating this documentary proved to be a greater challenge than typical filmmaking. He had initially thought it would be an effortless walk, but soon realized it was harder than producing a movie. In filmmaking, they have scripts to follow, but here there were no scripts; instead, interviews were taken and the emotions shared during these conversations turned out to be unpredictable elements.

As a film enthusiast, I myself have experienced the challenges faced when leading a production team, with Ranjan and editor Geeta Singh at my side. The most daunting obstacle we encountered was the acquisition of rights, especially regarding music. It seemed like every time we turned around, we were confronted with phrases such as “buying this right” or “buying that right.” The confusion lay in determining who actually owned these rights, with some claiming ownership and others disputing it. We even had to place notices in newspapers everywhere, asking the genuine owners to step forward.

The result was a strikingly truthful depiction of the family, crafted via an unconventional method for conducting interviews. Each family member, such as Rakesh, his composer brother Rajesh Roshan, and their famous son Hrithik, were interviewed individually without knowing what others had disclosed. “No one from the family was interviewed together,” Rakesh explains. “It was different days, different weeks.

This approach unexpectedly revealed candid, genuine instances. “In one instance, I momentarily lost sight of myself as Rakesh Roshan,” the filmmaker confesses. “I merely shared my hardships and experiences in overcoming them to accomplish whatever small success I achieved. It wasn’t a performance because when I was expressing it, I genuinely felt those emotions at that point in time.

Veteran composer Rajesh Roshan, with a career spanning 51 years, mirrors this sentiment of honesty. “Being a straightforward and genuine person, it was effortless for me to express candidly,” he explains. “The words I spoke were the truths of my life, the purpose of the documentary was to reveal our true selves, so everything shared came from the heart.

The film follows the family’s significant impact, starting from the groundbreaking musical creations of matriarch Roshan, continuing through Rakesh’s transformation from acting to acclaimed director, Rajesh’s long-lasting career in music, and Hrithik’s 25-year rise from debut sensation to modern-day star. Key figures in the industry like Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali offer further insights into the family’s powerful influence.

viewing the entire series completed left Rakesh Roshan astonished. “Upon seeing all four episodes together,” he muses, “I was shocked to realize the extent of our impact on the industry.” He continues, “I had no idea that our work spanned such a long period – 77 years! The collective contribution of Rajesh, myself, and Hrithik was astonishingly large.

In the future, Roshan shares insights valuable for modern filmmakers and intriguing updates for fans alike. He acknowledges that today’s directors produce extraordinary films but points out a potential shortcoming: a limited scope of vision needed for wide-reaching popularity. “Their perspective is not expansive,” he notes. “They strive to be authentic, yet films are not merely reflections of reality. Films serve as entertainment.” He encourages them by saying, “When I create a film, I envision it being watched in the tiniest village in India, all the way to LA and Australia – every audience should have the opportunity to witness that movie.

For fans eagerly waiting for the next chapter in the “Krrish” series, Roshan hints at exciting updates: “We’ll be making an announcement about it shortly. Rest assured, we are still working diligently, and you’ll be hearing from us soon.

Rajesh Roshan considers the documentary not only a personal family tale, but also a portrayal of the development of the Hindi film industry. “This documentary highlights the journey of artists like us,” he points out. “I feel that it was crucial for this documentary to be released now, as many classic tunes from the 1940s and 1950s should be preserved in an archive so that future generations can reconnect and learn about them.

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2025-02-01 12:47