No, Ashutosh isn’t going there to rake in the sun, or get himself a tan, or bask in the glory of Jodhaa Akbar.
Instead, he’ll be attending a two-day seminar in Goa on ‘Swades : How is it changing lives?’ And there’s more.
Kiran Bedi and several academicians are going to participate in this event. Never mind the others, but Swades surely seems to have changed Ashu’s life.
We have with us today Ashutosh Gowariker, the man who has given us some of the most memorable films in the recent past. Lagaan, Swades and now Jodhaa Akbar, Ashutosh has always managed to fascinate us with his tales of cricket, patriotism and royalty. It’s been over three years since first news stories of Jodhaa Akbar started trickling in. Now that the film is finally out, what do you say to yourself when you
wake up in the morning?
I think I just say ‘It’s done!’ We’ve finished a film. This has been quite easily my toughest film so far – not only with respect to the scale and grandeur but also with respect to the thought and the theme. But I really don’t feel that three years have passed because time really has flown. But I feel content now that the film is out and being appreciated.
You have said that films must entertain but also leave something behind with the audience. What has Jodhaa Akbar left with the audience?
The theme of love and tolerance for each other’s culture, religion, and co-existence are some things that are at the base of the film. Because they are seeing an alliance between the Rajput and the Mughals. But when you look at the contemporary resonance, it is the theme of co-existing in peace (that is left with the audience).
Why are most of your films so long? Does it have anything with just the subjects you choose?
It’s the genre actually. A period film, a social drama or an epic romance, lends itself to be unfolding in a slightly different kind of pace than what a comedy or thriller genre would have. And since all three films have just been drama, they are that long.
Ashutosh Gowariker had offered Swades to Hrithik first. However, Hrithik rejected his offer and the role was finally finely executed by Shah Rukh. Ashutosh however wasn’t bogged down by Hrithik’s previous rejection. As soon as he thought of casting an Akbar for his film… tall, athletic, good looking he only thought of our Roshan junior and this time around Hrithik accepted the role. However, not all has been hunky dory between the two was the news doing the rounds for the past few weeks. Hrithik hurt his knee while shooting for the film. The sword-fighting, elephant rides, wearing the heavy armour and accessories took a toll on his health. The good two years that the film took for its completion had also apparently annoyed the star. We brought up the issue in front of Sunita Gowariker and she completely denied the rumours. “Yes, it’s true that Hrithik was offered Swades which he chose not to do as he couldn’t see himself playing Mohan Bhargav. He found it difficult to associate himself with the character he was to portray. However, when the film got made, we showed it to him and he expressed his regrets for not doing the film. He thought he had made a mistake. But that’s past. As far as Jodhaa Akbar is concerned, Ashu and Hrithik have no issues against each other. In fact in the course of the film’s shoot, Hrithik hurt his knee, Ashu his back and me my pocket! I have spent a lot on this film”, joked Sunita
Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar has been in trouble from day one. The director, who was keen to release his film in the month of January, had to shift the release further. Now, it is heard, that the director has been suffering from severe back pain and is executing all his work lying on the bed.If all this was not enough, Ashutosh, who was editing recently, realised that a scene he had shot with Aishwarya Rai was not upto the mark. Our unit source claims, “The director picturised a scene where Aishwarya is riding a horse in a fight sequence. The director wanted an aggressive expression on Ash’s face, but, to his dismay, he realised later that Ash is looking frightened on the horse. With less time on his hands, he cannot re-shoot the entire scene and will have to morph her expression with advanced technology. He is now trying to figure out the technology with which he can rectify the situation. Ashutosh did not realise this when he was shooting or even later, when he was monitoring the scene at the set.”The source continues, “One doesn’t know whether these small situations or sequences will further delay the film. Ashutosh is trying his best to do it in time as further delay will only hamper work on the project.
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