Ashutosh Gowariker is busy reading Linda Goodman as research for his next film. But he takes time out to talk to Abhilasha Ojha
I don’t know why but one of my earliest recollections is of watching Ashutosh Gowariker as a child actor with Kader Khan in one of those typical Hindi “family drama” films.
“It’s a mistake, it wasn’t me,” he adds helpfully, making it sound like a cruel joke, “maybe I looked like an overgrown kid though I debuted as an actor when I was 22-years-old.”
Gowariker began his career acting in films like Holi and Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, to name just a few, still remembered for their content and brilliant crafting of on-screen characters. His debut as an actor was in Ketan Mehta’s Holi in 1984 and, afterwards, he acted in numerous films and TV serials like Kachi Dhoop and Circus besides films like Naam, Goonj, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and Chamatkar (many with Shahrukh Khan, whom he directed later in his film Swades).
By this time “the overgrown kid” had his trademark curly locks in place, a face that could, in filmi lingo, be described as “soft and expressive” and a body language that could carry off complicated roles with élan.
“I actually look at my entire acting career as my training ground. And there are times when I do revisit my old films, not for my acting but for the strong content and the way stories in those films were told,” he says, adding lightheartedly, “If there was a time machine, I’d go right back and change the way I’ve acted in all those films.”
For someone who, by his own admission, became both an actor and director by pure accident, Gowariker says that acting in films helped him think logically about where Indian cinema was headed.
“Even as an actor I wished for changes in Indian cinema. I would observe directors on the sets. After all,” he adds, “I haven’t formally learnt acting or even direction in any institution.”
Coming from Gowariker, it’s a statement that can leave anyone stumped. Especially if one considers his body of work in the directorial department. There was Lagaan, his third film (his first two films, Pehla Nasha and Baazi, flopped) that played a pivotal role in putting contemporary Indian cinema on the global map, including a nomination for an Oscar for the best foreign language film.
Then there was Swades, a critically acclaimed film, which, to a large extent, silenced Shah Rukh Khan’s critics who believed the actor could not act. Then there was Jodhaa Akbar, Gowariker’s magnum opus, starring two of India’s biggest and best-looking stars, Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan. The sheer logistics of the production required an equally big producer and it was then that UTV stepped in.
“When UTV stepped in to support Jodhaa Akbar, it was a pointer to the changes I’d been gradually witnessing in the Indian film industry,” says Gowariker.
“Today, as a director, I don’t have to worry about how I’ll sell my film, I can concentrate on making my film, and more importantly, making it my way.”
Imran Ali, vice president (marketing and communications), UTV Movies, chips in, “Jodhaa Akbar will be aired on Independence Day, within six months of its theatrical release, on TV, complete with deleted scenes, a unique contest, and with a running time of four hours, 45 minutes.”
For Gowariker, it’s a personal high. “Jodhaa Akbar wasn’t released in Rajasthan and I’m happy that 40 per cent of the audiences who couldn’t watch it will finally see the complete film.”
A Bandra boy who hails from a business family (“no one in my family is associated with films; my dad was a police officer and subsequently, a businessman”), Gowariker’s first brush with the creative arts was in college.
Armed with a BSc degree in chemistry, it was in Mithibai College that Gowariker first started acting in plays, “even picked up folkdances” and realised that he loved acting. “Even today, I love theatre and music. It’s so inspiring.”
| A rom com after the magnum opus While you were acting in films, what were your observations about our industry? The biggest thing to happen to Indian cinema when I was still acting was parallel cinema. Back then, any film without songs was parallel cinema. Today, mainstream cinema in India can be without songs too. More importantly, films without songs — unlike earlier — can succeed too. And this is just one instance. Indian cinema continues to undergo changes and I do believe these are good times for our industry. |
You haven’t had any formal training in either acting or direction. Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable and wish you had some theoretical knowledge?
Yes, some kind of theoretical knowledge could’ve made a difference and there are times when I do feel that joining a good film institute may have worked well for me.
What is the one major drawback in Indian cinema today?
Our film industry should borrow lots more from our rich literature. It’s around us and yet we haven’t found a way to incorporate more and more literature into our films. The change is happening but it needs to speed up.
How do you cope with the stress of making such big budget and grand-scale films?
You won’t believe me but I don’t get stressed because that’s a sure shot way of hampering your creativity. The stress is to find the right topic for the film I want to direct. Once that’s done, I don’t get stressed. Jodhaa Akbar’s research, for example, began in 2002.
Your new film, What’s Your Rashee, is a romantic comedy. Can you tell us something about it?
It’s adapted from Madhu Rye’s book and I’m excited about doing a romantic comedy. From my perspective, it’s also challenging. Getting people to smile is not an easy task.
It’s also a film that stars Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra, actors whose previous work, Love Story 2050, is a flop.
When Jodhaa Akbar released Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan were considered the best onscreen couple thanks to the success of Dhoom 2 and Krrish. But I’d signed them on before these films released. With What’s Your Rashee, I knew Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja could do justice to my work especially after I’d seen rushes of Love Story 2050.
They will suit the characters of my film extremely well.
How do you unwind?
I try and read as much as I can. I’m reading Linda Goodman right now because that’s the requirement of my new film. Anyway, I watch Marathi and Hindi theatre regularly and attend concerts. Music is a great relaxer and from Western classical music to Marathi sugam sangeet to world music, I listen to everything. It’s food for thought. I do sing at times too but in a closed, controlled environment.
