From blink-and-miss song appearances to scene-stealing guest roles, Hrithik Roshan has turned even cameos into memorable moments.
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan’s eyes in the Alpha trailer.
Key Points
Hrithik Roshan is confirmed to reprise his role as Kabir from War in a cameo for the coming YRF Spy Universe film Alpha.
The list spans everything from brief song cameos to memorable extended guest roles, including Luck By Chance, Don 2 and Tiger 3.
While some appearances were little more than friendly gestures, others proved Hrithik could steal the spotlight even with just a few minutes of screen time.
Did Yash Raj Films have to give away one of their biggest surprises in Alpha right in the trailer?
Sure, you can argue that the reveal raises anticipation for Alpha, but there are some who like to be surprised by cameos when they watch the film, rather than having them revealed before they even step into the theatre.
So anyway, now that the cat is out of the bag, Hrithik Roshan is all set to make a cameo in the Alia Bhatt and Sharvari-starrer Alpha, reprising his role of renegade but patriotic army officer Kabir from War and War 2. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is the seventh film in the now-shaky YRF Spy Universe and releases in theatres on July 3.
If you don’t count his upcoming Alpha cameo and the possibly rumoured cameo in Jailer 2 (which would mark his Tamil debut), Hrithik has made nine special appearances in movies during his 26-year career as a leading man, ranging from special song sequences to unexpected guest roles.
Sreeju Sudhakaran ranks Hrithik’s nine cameos from ho-hum to awesome. Pretty sure the number one spot on this list is something even Hrithik would agree with!
9. I See You (2006)
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan in I See You.
When Arjun Rampal turned producer with I See You, in which he also played the lead, he decided to bring in his then two superstar friends for brief appearances in his intro song.
So we have Shah Rukh Khan strumming a guitar in the Subah Subah song before walking away, and then Hrithik whistling down the road, breaking into a small jig before he too walks away.
The cameos were nothing more than a sweet gesture of support for Rampal.
8. Om Shanti Om (2007)
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan in Om Shanti Om.
Considering this moment was part of footage Farah Khan shot on the red carpet of a real awards ceremony, we are not sure if Hrithik even knew he was appearing in a cameo-studded movie.
Why do we think so?
Because he confidently says he is going to win the Best Actor award, and he is not even among the nominees!
Though it does make for a nice, if possibly unplanned, meta nod, with the star declaring he would win an award in a movie starring Shah Rukh Khan, reflecting how his blockbuster debut in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was once seen as a threat to SRK’s superstardom.
7. Hey Bro (2015)
IMAGE: Ganesh Acharya and Hrithik Roshan in Hey Bro.
The second time Hrithik made a song cameo for a friend who had turned producer.
This time it was choreographer Ganesh Acharya, who brought together several starry friends for a special music video for the song, Birju.
So it isn’t just Hrithik. The video also features Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Prabhu Deva and Ranveer Singh.
Unfortunately, they all shot their portions separately sharing screen only with Ganesh Acharya, so there is no Deewangi Deewangi-style screen-sharing here.
6. Krazzy 4 (2008)
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan in Krazzy 4.
The third song cameo on this list was also for a dear one’s production, this time for his dad Rakesh Roshan.
Hrithik shows off some slick dance moves in the remix version of the title track, played during the end credits of this madcap comedy starring Irrfan Khan, Arshad Warsi, Rajpal Yadav and Suresh Menon.
Interestingly, the original version of the song appears within the film itself and is picturised on Shah Rukh Khan.
5. Tiger 3 (2023)
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan in Tiger 3.
Tiger 3 proved to be an underwhelming entry in the YRF Spy Universe, especially after Pathaan’s blockbuster success.
However, excitement peaked when the end credits teased the next chapter in the franchise, War 2, with Hrithik emerging in a neon-soaked alley, looking every bit the dashing ronin.
Unfortunately for fans, what followed that promise turned out to be a major disappointment and became the franchise’s first big flop.
4. Main Krishna Hoon (2013)
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan in Main Krishna Hoon.
Hrithik and Katrina Kaif played themselves in this live action-animation hybrid entertainer produced by their long-time associates.
Apparently, Lord Krishna is Hrithik’s fan in the film, and the superstar arrives to meet him.
It is a rather kitschy scene that still works because Hrithik doesn’t phone it in, even if he is mostly talking to thin air during the shoot.
3. Hrudayantar (2017)
IMAGE: Trushnika Shinde and Hrithik Roshan in Hrudayantar.
Sometimes Hrithik doesn’t even need to say anything to make a scene work emotionally. Such is the case with his Marathi debut in the acclaimed Hrudayantar.
The actor plays himself, appearing as his superhero character Krrish to fulfil the wish of a child suffering from leukaemia.
The scene gives him no dialogues, but his expressions and that warm hug are enough to tug at your heartstrings.
2. Don 2 (2011)
IMAGE: Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra in Don 2.
When you think about it, the cameo is rather silly and makes very little logical sense, especially once the reveal near the end arrives.
Yet anyone who watched Don 2 in theatres without any idea it was coming probably let out a loud gasp when Hrithik suavely walked in alongside Lara Dutta during a crucial sequence, before doing a lovely waltz with Priyanka Chopra.
Of course, I am still trying to figure out how a face mask can magically add a few inches in height and even an extra finger!
1. Luck By Chance (2009)
IMAGE: Karan Johar and Hrithik Roshan in Luck By Chance.
In a recent Instagram post, Hrithik wrote that when someone asked him what kind of role he wanted to play, he realised it was a character like Zaffar from Luck By Chance. Because he wanted to move away from playing the conventional good guy.
Zoya Akhtar’s directorial debut, set in the Hindi film industry, features Hrithik in an extended cameo as a popular young superstar. The role represents the opportunism, survival instincts and insecurities of Bollywood stars, and how one actor’s walkout can become another’s breakout.
It was quite a bold move from Hrithik to take on a role that went against his image, and that’s exactly what makes Zaffar one of his finest performances to date.
Oh yes, he also gets to show off those cool dance moves in the gloriously flashy Baawre song.
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
