Hrithik Roshan to don director's cap for 'Krrish 4'

Film marks debut directorial for B-town star

Bollywood's beloved superhero saga takes an exciting leap forward as Hrithik Roshan, the face of the Krrish franchise, gears up to make his directorial debut with Krrish 4.

The announcement was made by Hrithik's father and the director of the three previous Krrish films, Rakesh Roshan, on Instagram. With the news confirmed, fans have gone into a frenzy as the film promises a new chapter in India's iconic superhero series.

In the caption, referring to his son as Duggu, Rakesh nostalgically wrote, "25 years ago, I launched you as an actor. Today, after all these years, you are being launched as a director by two filmmakers, Aditya Chopra and myself, to take forward our most ambitious film, Krrish 4." The veteran filmmaker capped his sweet note by wishing Hrithik all the best with his new creative turn.

Following the announcement, during an interview with Pinkvilla, Rakesh expressed his trust and pride in his son. "I'm passing the baton to my son," he said, "Hrithik has lived and breathed this franchise since its inception. His ambitious vision will carry Krrish forward for the next generation." This move also marks a powerhouse collaboration between Yash Raj Films and FilmKraft Productions, with Aditya Chopra co-producing the project.

Hrithik began his career behind the camera as an assistant director, working on four films including Khudgarz (1987) and Karan Arjun (1995), both of which were directed by his father. Over the years, the actor has expressed a longstanding interest in directing. "Direction is something I've always dreamt about," he admitted during a 2014 interview. Now, he steps into the dual role of actor and director for the franchise.

Krrish 4 will build upon the franchise's legacy, which began in 2003 with Koi Mil Gaya, a heartwarming sci-fi tale. Its sequels, Krrish (2006) and Krrish 3 (2013), solidified Hrithik's masked crusader as India's answer to Superman, infused with Bollywood's signature drama and action.

While fans are ecstatic, the actor's close ones are equally enthusiastic. Hrithik's girlfriend, actor and musician Saba Azad reposted the original post. His sister, Sunaina, also expressed her joy and wrote: "Krrish has been Papa and Duggu's dream project since its inception, and watching them take this vision forward fills me with immense pride. Words can't describe how excited I am to see Duggu step into the director's role for Krrish 4. Just another amazing milestone for you and I couldn't be prouder."

Priyanka Chopra, who starred opposite Hrithik in the franchise as Priya Mehra, reacted with heart emojis to the announcements, leaving fans wondering if she will return in her role for the upcoming film.