Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 3, 2017)

After Shah Rukh Khan gave the mahurat clap for fashion designer Vikram Phadnis’s directorial debut, the Marathi film Hrudayantar, in December, the ace fashion designer has now roped in Hrithik Roshan for a special appearance in the film. The 43-year-old actor shot for the cameo on Wednesday at a Mumbai studio. He plays himself.

“My film is a story about a family and how they learn to celebrate life through turbulent times. Hrithik takes the story forward. Nobody except for him could have played this role, he adds power to the film whose title can be loosely translated as ‘Bonds of the Heart’,” informs Vikram.

He was delighted that the actor immediately agreed to be a part of the project after hearing the script. “It was supposed to be a 20-minute meeting but went on for an hour-and-a-half because he really connected with the subject and understood the soul of the film,” says Vikram. Farah Khan and Shiamak Davar have also choreographed for the film with the latter playing a small but a significant part.

Hrithik, being the perfectionist, came all prepped to the set. “He is a director’s actor. I was so happy I returned home with a big smile,” beams the director.

Does Hrithik speak in Marathi? “We’ll let that be a surprise,” he says enigmatically.

Hrithik who had been on a promotional overdrive for his last release, his home production Kaabil, for the last couple of months, recently went on a much-needed break to a health spa abroad where he signed up for a detox programme. On his return, he was back in action for Vikram.