Hrithik Roshan in a still from Bang Bang.
Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan has been voted the world's sexiest Asian man for the third time in four years. The 40-year-old actor reclaimed the crown, which he lost last year, in the 11th edition of the '50 Sexiest Asian Men In The World' list produced annually by Britain's weekly newspaper Eastern Eye.
Television actor Kushal Tandon was the surprise runner up in this year's list and last year's winner Ali Zafar slipped to third place on the ratings released on Wednesday.
TV actor Vivian Dsena, who made it into the top 10 for the first time, was fourth in a record-breaking year that saw more than 10 million votes cast in all.
"Thank you
Eastern Eye. I am humbled by the desirable tag. I believe sexy is less to do with the physical and more to do with the mental perspective on life, others and yourself," Hrithik said. (Also Read -
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"Do good, never please, know your worth, walk your path, have a sense of humour, be the giver, be self-sufficient and contribute with power to all around. Sexy is as sexy does. Create your own sexy!" he added.
Eastern Eye showbiz editor Asjad Nazir, founder of the list and chair of the judging panel, believes Hrithik is on his way to become India's first global cinematic superstar.
"The reason why Hrithik is regularly voted top is that he ticks all the boxes. He is a talented actor, is the best dancer in Bollywood, has arguably the best physique and has the kind of humility that connects him to the everyday individual," Nazir said.
The win rounded off a roller-coaster year for the actor that saw him star in one of the year's biggest hits
Bang Bang and his amicable divorce from wife Sussanne Khan.
Actor Fawad Khan was in seventh position. Others stars in the top 10 include Shahid Kapoor at number five, Barun Sobti at six, Ranbir Kapoor at 8 and Salman Khan at number 10.
Indian TV stars dominated the 2014 list including actor Ashish Sharma (14) who followed up his stunning win on reality TV show
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 by being the highest placed newcomer. Other TV stars in the list included Gurmeet Choudhary (11), Karan Singh Grover (12), Karan Tacker (16), Kunwar Amar (17), Harshad Arora (19), Gautam Rode (20), Rithvik Dhanjani (21) and Aham Sharma (27).
Virat Kohli is the only sportsman in the list again at number 38.
Other notable names in the list include Shah Rukh Khan (13), Sidharth Malhotra (15), Arjun Kapoor (18), Ranveer Singh (22), singer Arjun (31), Atif Aslam (40) and Suriya (50).
The 2014 full list will be published in
Eastern Eye this Friday.