The mentally challenged adult-turned superman played by Hrithik Roshan in Koi Mil Gaya has cast its spell on all and sundry as the film is nearing its silver jubilee run, currently running in its 22nd week across the country.
KMG has cast its spell on everybody - be it the roadside chaiwala or the office executive, the housewife or the modern working woman, kids as well as grown-ups, the average cinegoer or the analysing critic.
No wonder, Hrithik is on cloud nine following the stupendous success of KMG basking in the same glory as came his way after his sensational debut in Kaho Na Pyar Hai a few years ago.
''I am relieved that all the hard work and experimentation involved in making the film have paid off. I am happy that cinegoers accepted me in the role, which is far removed from a regular hero role,'' Hrithik said in an interview recently.
Relieved he may be over the film's good showing at the turnstiles but at no point of time was Hrithik unsure about its success.
''Koi Mil Gaya was a good film so it had to be a success. In fact, the film's success proves that the audience will appreciate a good film,'' says Hrithik with a feeling of euphoria.
Besides being an excellent box office grosser, KMG has bagged several awards at this year's Screen Awards, including the best actor award for Hrithik as well as the best director award for his father filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and the best film award.
On whether he felt that the success of KMG was largely due to the fact that audience today is giving the thumbs up to films with unconventional storylines and characters, Hrithik said, ''I think that cinemagoers appreciate a good film irrespective of whether the story is offbeat. Films fail if they are not good films - and good films always run.''
Life for Hrithik has been a roller coaster ride over the past four years. After making a dream debut in "Kaho Na Pyar Hai" in 1999, a film which almost overnight made him the "heartthrob of millions", the 'less than expected' response to his subsequent films Na Tum Jaano Na Hum , Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage , Yaadein , Fiza , Mujhse Dosti Karoge and Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon - saw him go on a downhill path with many people quick to dub him as 'another Kumar Gaurav '.
In this context, the success of KMG seems to have provided the much-needed boost to Hrithik's career.
The mentally challenged adult-turned superman played by 