Covering Bollywood and the Hindi Cinema

Hrithik Roshan and his wife Sussanne are expecting their second child in May and the actor says he would like to have a daughter this time.

"I don't want to say much about this. But, yes, we're very excited. I thought my excitement level would be lower the second time around, but it's as high," Hrithik said.

Would Hrithik like his second child to be a baby brother for Hrehaan? "No," he says firmly. "I want a girl this time."

Hrithik, who will be seen in the periodical Jodhaa-Akbar, set to hit the marquee Feb 15. He has gone straight to the pop art of advertising biscuits.

Last week, he was in Goa shooting for an ad with the gifted Navdeep Singh, who last year directed the talked-about noir film Manorama Six Feet Under.
It's one more ad for a biscuit company. The last time Hrithik shot an ad for the same guys, it showed him waltzing ethereally with Isha Sharvani. This time, Hrithik's partner in the ad format is upcoming model Gunjan Bakshi, who has so far mainly done ads for the print medium.

But sad luck, Gunjan! This time Hrithik doesn't dance in the ad. And that's quite a change for the actor.

"I'm aware a majority of the ads expect me to put on my dancing shoes. I can't say I've consciously avoided dancing for this one. But yes, when you sit down to create something with likeminded people, ideas do tend to be tossed freely and feelingly. I did feel the dancing bit in the ads was becoming tedious," he said.

Hrithik doesn't do much dancing in his next release Jodhaa-Akbar. And that isn't because he injured his knee during the shooting.

"That's completely untrue. I didn't get injured during Jodhaa Akbar. My knee had been suffering for a long time. I just let it be until it came to a point where it could take no more," he said.

The plus side of the injury is that Hrithik got to spend more time with his wife and son Hrehaan.

The downside? "Well, here I am in Goa surrounded by the sun and sand. I'm staring at this inviting expanse of beach leading into a stretch of the bluest sea I've ever seen. And all I want to do is run with the sand and sea flapping on my feet and face. But I can't do that. Thanks to my knee. I've to behave myself if I want to again do what I love doing the most, namely action and dance," Hrithik said.