Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan took to Twitter to mourn the passing of his early mentor M.M. Baig, sharing a deeply personal tribute. “My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence over my speech and delivery ... you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me,” Hrithik wrote, adding that Baig helped him overcome shyness while empowering his vulnerability at just 18 years old.
M.M. Baig, who passed away in his 70s at his Mumbai home after being unwell for days, played a quiet but pivotal role in shaping Hrithik’s career before his 2000 debut in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. Baig had a prolific career in Bollywood, serving as an assistant director on films like Karz Chukana Hai and Kishen Kanhaiya under Rakesh Roshan, and directing Chhoti Bahu. His passing prompted a post-mortem by Mumbai police, but it is the human side of his mentorship that fans are celebrating.
Hrithik’s tribute highlights the profound influence mentors have in shaping Bollywood stars behind the scenes. “I was lost. And you helped me find my way,” he wrote, noting that he still practices Baig’s lessons to this day. Fans responded with heartfelt messages, prayers, and reflections on the unsung guidance that mentors provide in the film industry.
The post resonates not just as a farewell to a veteran filmmaker but as a personal glimpse into Hrithik’s vulnerability — revealing the struggles of a young actor and the guiding hands that helped him blossom into one of Hindi cinema’s most polished performers.
As tributes pour in, it’s clear that Baig’s legacy will endure not only through his films but through the lives and careers he shaped, most notably that of Hrithik Roshan.