Hrithik Roshan, now one of Bollywood’s most popular actors, began his journey in the industry with his breakthrough film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai in 2000. However, before the release of his debut, Hrithik had already started working on Mission Kashmir alongside Sonali Kulkarni. In a recent interview, Sonali reminisced about her experience working with Hrithik during this early stage of his career.
Sonali shared that she first met Hrithik during her audition for Mission Kashmir. Hrithik, who was yet to achieve stardom, introduced himself by saying, “Hi, I am Hrithik Roshan, son of Rakesh Roshan. I am a struggler.” In response, Sonali introduced herself similarly, saying, “Hi, I am Sonali Kulkarni, daughter of BG Kulkarni. I am also a struggler.”
As filming for Mission Kashmir continued, Hrithik’s debut film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was released, catapulting him to instant stardom. Despite this, Sonali recalled that their interactions remained positive and supportive. They continued to encourage each other throughout the filming process.
Sonali, at 25, played the role of Hrithik’s foster mother in Mission Kashmir. When asked if the role was uncomfortable for her, she mentioned that it wasn’t, as she approached it as a character-driven performance. However, Sonali did express concerns about the height difference between herself and Sanjay Dutt, who played her husband in the film. She feared that the makers would reject her for the role, given Sanjay Dutt’s towering screen presence.
Interestingly, Sonali revealed that she was unaware that she would be playing Hrithik’s mother when she signed up for the film. Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mission Kashmir became an important film in both her and Hrithik’s careers.
