A date with Bollywood star
Right, it's time to get cultural, do something out of your comfort zone and try something new.
In a recent online survey with Emirates Business, 86 per cent of those originally from Europe, the US or Australia admitted they have never watched a Bollywood or Arabic movie or even attended a foreign event. A shame, considering the UAE offers a plethora of multi-cultural activities, events and movies that no other place can offer.
Many explained the main reason they don't is because they don't know much about the event or actors...etc. Well, that's about to change.
Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan touches down in the emirate this week for his hotly anticipated appearance during the Zee Dubai Mega Mela – dubbed by organisers as the region's largest outdoor Asian festival – which, at the time of going to print, was due to begin tomorrow.
Scheduled to run during the weekend at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Zee Dubai Mega Mela will feature musicians Shankar Ehsaan Loy and Ali Azmat, as well as Indian cooking masterclasses by India's biggest celeb chef Sanjeev Kapoor. Plus, plenty of fashion will be on display thanks to shows from Samsaara, BnK, FNK Asia, Soiree and Centrepoint.
Roshan, who is the three-day event's headline act, is no doubt the heartthrob of many fans. You too can be a know-it-all-about-Roshan before Thursday thanks to Emirates Business' handy guide to the hottie. Read on.
How it all started
The now 36-year-old actor and performer was born on January 10, 1974 in Mumbai, India, to a Punjabi Hindu family of well-known figures in Indian showbiz.
Roshan's father is film director Rakesh Roshan, who is the son of music director Roshan; while his mother, Pinky, is the daughter of producer and director J Om Prakash. His uncle Rajesh Roshan is a famous music director.
As a child, Roshan attended the Bombay Scottish School, and later attended Sydenham College, where he got his Bachelor's degree in Commerce. However, Roshan was bitten by the acting bug from a very early age thanks to appearing in several films as a child actor in the 1980s.
A star is born
The actor is tremedously talented. In 2000, Roshan made his leading film debut in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, and the film was a major success, earning Roshan Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut.
Later on, the actor won critical acclaim for his roles in 2003's Koi... Mil Gaya, 2006's Krrish and Dhoom 2,
2008's Jodhaa Akbar is his biggest commercial successs so far, for which he won numerous Best Actor awards, including his first international award at the Golden Minbar International Film Festival in Kazan, Russia. It was after that he established himself as one of the leading contemporary actors of Bollywood.
Filmography
The actor has 21 films to his name.
His latest film, Kites, is out on May 21, and is currently filming another project, entitled Guzaarish.
He's a family man...
Roshan is married to Suzanne Roshan, owner of Suzanne Roshan's House of Design and daughter of actor Sanjay Khan.
The couple have two sons, Hrehaan, born in 2006 and Hridhaan born in 2008.
...And he's modest
In an interview, when asked about him being compared to Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan, Roshan replied: "I still have a long way to go. People will realise the difference between Shah Rukh Khan and a one-movie-wonder like me."
Tickets
At the time of going to print, it was yet to be confirmed whether Zee Dubai Mega Mela 2010 would be postponed. Ticketholders are requested to call the ticketing hotline on 04 445 6825.