3 min readMumbaiJan 31, 2026 03:09 PM IST As the Hindi film industry stepped into the 21st century, a single name dominated popular culture: Hrithik Roshan. Making a sensational debut with Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, the actor became an overnight phenomenon. He was everywhere: splashed across headlines, discussed endlessly, and adored for his looks and dancing skills. Amid the frenzy surrounding his meteoric rise, reports began circulating about an alleged tension between Hrithik and the already reigning superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, who was said to feel threatened by the newcomer’s sudden ascent. Revisiting that phase years later, restaurateur AD Singh recalled what was happening behind the scenes, and how he personally witnessed a moment that contradicted much of the speculation. Speaking to Outlook Traveller, Singh described a first-hand encounter between the two stars at his restaurant, Olive Bar and Kitchen. Talking about Hrithik’s explosive arrival on the scene and the media narrative at the time, Singh recounted, “Hrithik had burst upon the scene, he was very big with that first movie, and the …