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More than meets the eye
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Director Aashutosh Gowarikar on ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and his other ventures
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Royal saga A scene from ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and (below) Aashutosh Gowarikar
For those who missed watching Jodhaa Akbar on the big screen six months ago, here is some good news. It is going to be screened on Independence Day on UTV Movies at 11 a.m.
The film that traces the life of Emperor Akbar from his boyhood to youth, bringing to the screen his doubts, aspirations, dilemmas, love and marriage to Jodhaa Bai, has Hrithik Roshan playing Akbar and Aishwarya Rai Jodha.
The telecast will be followed by 30 minutes’ worth of scenes that were deleted to trim the length of the film. Also, during breaks, director Aashutosh Gowarikar would ask the viewers a few “easy history questions”.
Among those who message the right answers, five couples would be chosen to meet Hrithik, Aishwarya and Aashutosh in Mumbai. The deleted scenes include those involving Birbal.
Aashutosh is not worried that the film didn’t do great business. “I am not hurt. I am disappointed. More so, because I lost one week, and therefore the revenue in both U.P. and M.P, where the film was banned for unjustified reasons. In Rajasthan, it hasn’t released yet. I am happy that now through satellite, even Rajasthan would be able to watch it. They had banned it in cinema halls — now, it will be seen in every home,” he says sarcastically.
On why he chose Hrithik to play the lead, he has a ready answer. “From the scripting stage, I had Hrithik in mind because the kind of regality, physique and stature that my Akbar needed. I am sure of SRK and Aamir’s talent, but one shouldn’t debate on a director’s vision,” he says politely.
For Aishwarya too, he thinks she has grace and “that quintessential Amar Chitra Katha kind of beauty” that a queen is identified with.
“I could have taken newcomers, but I feared that they wouldn’t be able to shoulder the profundity needed to portray that role. Rather, they would have scaled it down,” he adds.
‘Neat and clean’
Ali Imran of UTV, certain the telecast will draw maximum viewership, says, “We chose August 15 because, on a holiday, families like to watch a neat and clean film together, and the questions based on history would glue them to the television set.”
Aashutosh’s next film, “What Is Your Rashee”, with Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra, is on the floors.
“It is based on a book called ‘Kimball Raven’s Wood’ by Madhu Ryi. It’s the story of a boy who, when he decides to get married, selects and rejects girls on the basis of their ‘rashee’ or zodiac sign. It’s a romantic comedy minus mockery or spoofing. I think I am incapable of joking at someone or something.”
RANA SIDDIQUI ZAMAN
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