Peace, happiness and contentment — Hrithik Roshan has place only for these in his life right now. His resolution for 2023 is “to be more social”. And age is definitely just a number for the actor, who is busy with Fighter, his next. Turning 49 today, he is more vocal than ever about the man behind the star the world recognises. Excerpts from a chat:

I used to see it as a fun day but then somewhere along the way it started becoming a chore, a duty, must celebrate, must party... Birthdays came with a slight sense of discomfort. But today, I see it as an opportunity to spend time doing things that would fulfil me. I may still do the exact same things, but now it’s out of my own desire and sense of fulfilment rather than a self-imposed mandate.

That peace is not high up there at the top of the pyramid that we hope to reach someday after all the work is done... Or at the end of the day’s work. It is, in fact, the base and foundation of every thing and every action in every moment. We need to start at peace. The very state of being at the beginning should be peace.

I have always seen myself be a part of the Indian film industry, which is a part of the larger global community striving to entertain. I’d take no part in any debate that says otherwise.

It wasn’t the transformation — that part is hard work, which I enjoy — it was the heady approach to the movie right till the release. I wasn’t ready for War, where the characters Kabir and Khalid were supposed to go head-to-head in an all-out action movie. Doing films like Kaabil (2017) and Super 30 (2019) had made me lazy. I literally broke parts of me trying to achieve the vision of Kabir in my head. And when the applause and success came, it failed to fill me up. People thought I was that guy on screen — while the human I am, the sacrifices, the broken pieces went completely unseen. That’s when I knew I was on the cusp of something important for my self-growth. I went into a shell for months nursing my physical and mental self back to health. And swore I would do it right the next time around. The problem is, my vision is greater than I can ever be. I’m constantly playing catch up with it. It’s time to reconcile.

Even as Hrithik Roshan continues to wow the audiences as Rohan, the visually challenged lead of Kaabil, the actor is winning hearts for another cause. According to sources, he pledged to donate his eyes on the occasion of his 43rd birthday on January 10.

Though Hrithik has always been socially conscious, it was his close association with the visually challenged during the shoot of the Sanjay Gupta film that prompted this decision.

Dr S. Natarajan, the chairman and director of Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital through which the actor pledged to donate his eyes, said, “When I saw the trailer of Kaabil, I called Rakesh Roshan (producer) and asked if Hrithik would pledge his eyes. I was pleasantly surprised when he told me that his son was already planning to do so. When I spoke to Hrithik, he told me that he would like to celebrate his birthday by pledging his eyes.“

The ophthalmologist, incidentally, was also the doctor for Hrithik's grandfather, the legendary composer Roshan. “Though he pledged his eyes on his birthday, he requested us to keep it under wraps. We would now like to use this news to motivate others to follow his example.“

Hrithik was deeply affected when he learnt that by 2020, the number of individuals with unilateral corneal blindness in India is expected to shoot up. The downside is that 75 per cent of these cases are avoidable but due to acute shortage of donors, most cases either go untreated or inadequately treated.

Dr Natarajan rued, “In India, we need close to two lakh donors every year, but currently, we have just 30,000 donations annually.“

That's not all. Hrithik, the doctor said, will be part of a campaign that promotes eye donation. The endeavour is aimed towards encouraging a million people to donate their eyes.

Hrithik Roshan turns 43 today. The superstar says that he will usher in his birthday with his family and two sons. That's not all, with his home production Kaabil all set to hit screens on January 25, the actor is also planning to party with the cast and crew of the film.

In an exclusive chat with BT, Hrithik says, “I have been working on the post-production of Kaabil. On my birthday, all I want to do is spend time with my family and children. There'll also be a wrap-up party of sorts with the cast and crew of the film. I think I will have a great time surrounded by the people I love.“

The actor, who is devoted to fitness, points out that his concept of birthday has changed since he became a dad. “I look forward to the occasion because my children make interesting plans. They have the habit of writing to me on my birthday, so I eagerly await their notes, and they also look forward to it. It puts a smile on my face.“

Interestingly, Hrithik's debut film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (KNPH) had also released in January (14th). Does it make him nostalgic? “I feel like I am travelling back in time. It reminds me of exactly what I had gone through during my first release. It's a very strange feeling, and the reason could be that I have come a full circle. It's almost like I am starting again. It's been long since I've had the opportunity to put my heart and soul into a film,“ he says, adding, “A film script is like a pool. The deeper it is, the deeper you can go, and I have had the opportunity to go into the depths of Rohan (his character in Kaabil)... The last time I felt like this was probably during KNPH or Koi Mil Gaya. It's like going back to the basics.“

Duggu also has a special message for his fans, who he credits for his success and stardom. “I thank my fans for all the love that I receive. Every birthday, I am made to feel cherished - I want to tell all my fans that what makes me special is them and I value their love,“ he signs off.

Akshay Kumar, who resides on the ground and first floor of Prime Beach building in Juhu, has often been spotted taking a walk or playing with his children in his sea-facing garden. However, on Sunday afternoon, the superstar's customary outdoor play time with son Aarav and daughter Nitara had to be called off.

Reason being that his new neighbour Hrithik Roshan was holding a media interaction there. The lighteyed superstar, who moved into this building sometime last July, had 'hijacked' the common garden to celebrate his 42nd birthday with the fourth estate. Previously, he'd hold his meet-and-greet session with the media in the compound of Palazzo, on 11th Road Juhu, where he stayed with his family before moving into this sea-facing apartment.

Mirror (January 7) had earlier reported that Hrithik Roshan would bring in his 42nd birthday at a rooftop watering hole of a Worli hotel. On Saturday, the actor, who gifted himself a Rolls Royce, ever the doting dad took his sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan, for the first ride in the swanky car.

Talking about cakes, not one but three were cut that evening. Hrithik, who kicked off the celebrations three hours before Cinderella hour, did the honours first so his sons, who had come down especially for the cake-cutting could go home.

Buddy Farhan Akhtar, who had already turned 42 on January 9, but had preferred to keep the celebrations low-key till he arrived to rock it at Hrithik's bash, also got his piece of cake and so did designer Nandita Mahtani who had turned a year older on Friday.

Hrithik was a gracious host. “Everyone hit the dance floor. Lounge music and Bollywood hits were played, with Hrithik's songs getting the loudest cheers,“ says a source who attended the party.

Shah Rukh Khan came after midnight and after the party, Hrithik and Ranveer Singh drove back to Mannat with him where they chilled out for an hour. Interestingly, Ranveer and SRK, who had recently locked horns at the box-office, were clicking selfies with a group of boys which included Hrithik, Mika Singh and Sanjay Kapoor. Hrithik's first costar from Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, Ameesha Patel, came with her 'pyaar' Kunal Goomer and was in high spirits, as was Koi... Mil Gaya co-star Preity Zinta.

Also, present were Arjun Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar, Hrithik's former brother-in-law DJ Aqeel with wife Farah Khan Ali, Simone Khan, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Subhash Ghai, Shilpa Shetty and Sonali Bendre among others.

Sunday started with a havan. In the afternoon, he cut a cake with the media. Hrithik was in the mood to spread joy, urging everyone to “laugh more for all this shall pass into oblivion“. The guests were sent chocos and champagne as return gifts.

Take a Greek god, strip him of his sinews. Lose the immortality and junk the superpowers - and what have you? A mortal? A human? A Hrithik Roshan. An actor who never tires of hearing compliments equating him with Greek godliness and superhero capers. I wanted to cut to the chase to discover what the beating heart inside him was like. And I hit pay dirt. In this heartfelt interview, Hrithik revealed how he is an emotional father. A hopeful lover. A fearless explorer. A man who is curious about the unknown, an actor with red blood flowing in his veins, in spite of his blue-blooded stardom. And this is what really makes Hrithik Roshan so desirable and droolworthy. Read on...

You tweeted this at the start of the year: “This year GET CURIOUS! Find out what happens if u DO do all d things u were too afraid or lazy to do! Don't u wonder what's on d other side?“ Hrithik, have you been following what you said? Rediscovering yourself, taking risks and pushing boundaries?
To me that's like asking if I'm living or not. I believe if you are not rediscovering yourself and pushing boundaries, then you are not alive. Everybody wants to change something about their life, but they are either too afraid, too lazy, or too comfortable with 'the way things are'. That's not a natural state because nature is constantly evolving and urging us to follow suit. It unsettles me because I see myself in them, and I want for them the change I have achieved physically and mentally. If you are not aiming that high, why play at all? I'm so curious about knowing the unknown, it can be scary but I see it as a game and that takes all the fear away.

You have been playing the perfect daddy to your boys - Hrehaan and Hridhaan. What are the things you boys like doing together?
My bond with my boys is true and strong, not just because they are my sons, but because we three are perfectly cast in characters that get along so well when we are together. Nothing remains special if you are not constantly pushing your imagination to discover and invent possibilities. Fatherhood didn't just happen to me, I am deliberately living it, re-imagining it and rediscovering it every day. It is as beautiful as I make it, just like anything else in life.

Does it bring back memories of the relationship you shared with your father while growing up?
No. Different characters, different movie (laughs). I am blessed to have a great father who did his best while trying to make ends meet financially and professionally.

Ever feel that the time you get to spend with your boys is not enough, as kids grow up really quickly?
People keep saying that, but for me time is like the wave and I'm the surfer. As long as I am one with the wave, riding it and harnessing its speed - I will never feel it's going faster than me. If I stop to reflect upon it, it's going to overcome me. There will come a point when it all automatically slows down, until then I am the eternal time surfer. So I don't feel my time with my boys is not enough. I have all the time in the world. Right now, I am rediscovering the world with them, we are travellers, explorers, and we have to go where no man has gone before...(ha!ha!)

Do you watch any of your movies with your boys? How do they react?
Yes, that's when the daddy turns into the child, hoping for a compliment from them. When my kids love my work I feel elated and victorious, it means more to me than an Oscar. And when they are silent, I'm proud that they have a mind and perspective of their own, and are courageous enough not to say things just to please me.

In the past year you have been living by yourself, spending a lot of time with your children and focussing on one film at a time. So are you in a happy place and a happy state of mind?
Yes! I have never had such sense of joy and fulfillment. It's almost like this is the person I was destined to be. But it's come through a lot of hard work. I had to fight my own mind to get here.

You tweeted after watching SRK's recent film, “to the man who makes his own luck“. Do you think one can make his own luck? Some believe that we are either born with it, or we are not.
I choose to see in others what I see in myself, or desire for myself. If you believe you are either born with it or not, you will always remain a victim of circumstances. But if you believe you have the power to make your own luck - you will confidently engage in an action that will cause a change.

Do you believe in finding love all over again?
I am so full of love that it's not possible I won't find love. At the same time, I don't need another person to feel the feeling of love. I feel it all the time. But if you are asking about someone who I can share my joy and travels with, then yes, I may come across one. Or ten (smiles). Who knows?

Ever thought of doing films in the West, given your great looks and stock of talent?
Sure enough. Doing films in the West seems very possible. In fact, I will do it.

You focus on one film at a time; don't you feel the need to do more?
Honestly, I do. And I am going to. I am bound to make that happen now.

In an industry that is so competitive, you are constantly tweeting praises and applaud ing other actors on social net working sites.
It's simple. People who don't praise others are secretly afraid. And people who praise just to please others, suffer from low self-worth. They live their life shackled to their glory and success. I am free. I am super at what I do and what I am. And to become better myself, I must rejoice and push my friends to be even greater.