By Subhash K. Jha, IANS
Ashutosh GowarikarShooting for Ashutosh Gowarikar's "Jodha-Akbar" is
expected to be over next month and the long awaited film, that the
director insists is not a "remix version" of "Mughal-e-Azam", will be
released Oct 12.
"That's the Eid week. We're looking at a cross-culture of audiences to
come for the film," says the "Lagaan" and "Swades" director.
"Swades" wasn't a huge success. "But ultimately it reached out to the
right people... You know, we're going through a 're-mix phase' in
music and cinema. We need to get over that. It will soon go away and a
new order will emerge. Let me reiterate, 'Jodha-Akbar' isn't a 'remix
version' of 'Mughal-e-Azam'."
"Jodha-Akbar", starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, is
Ashutosh's most expensive film. "Our budget is Rs.37 crores. But my
co-producer Ronnie Screwvala and I aren't looking at the budget as a
responsibility. Between us we've worked out the financial details,
including what is required in production and marketing."
Aishwarya and Hrithik have undergone the most gruelling and rugged
outdoor experience of their lives. But the horse riding and sword
fencing were not entirely a shock.
"We had several sessions in Mumbai... lots of riding and
sword-fighting lessons just so that they'd be attuned to their Mughal
characters and know the right way of riding a horse or holding a
sword. You know sword fencing is a very western concept, whereas the
way the talwaar was used in the Mughal times was very different.
"I had got Hrithik and Ash accustomed to the body language and
attitude of those times from beforehand. Now all they're doing is
executing a vision they're already aware of," says Ashutosh from his
location in Rajasthan.
Is he worried by the utterly contemporary image of his lead pair in
"Dhoom 2"? "Not at all! In 'Dhoom 2', they are Hrithik Roshan and
Aishwarya Rai. In my film they are Akbar and Jodha. Their personas in
'Dhoom 2' are closer to what they really are. Not that I've changed
their physicality. But audiences will see only the characters."
Ashutosh thinks Ash and Hrithik aren't only immensely good looking but
also hugely talented.
Download Dhoom 2 Wallpapers"I've seen every single film of theirs from
'Kaho... Na Pyar Hai' and K'yun....Ho Gaya Na' to 'Dhoom 2'. They
always show an easy adaptability to the requirements of every
director. Be it 'Chokher Bali' or 'Raincoat' for Aishwarya or 'Mission
Kashmir' and 'Fiza' for Hrithik, they've transformed in front of the
camera. They're both intensely dedicated."
The diligent filmmaker is all praise for the pairing. "Hrithik and Ash
look really good together in my film. But the full impact will be
discernable only when the film releases. The give-and-take between the
two as they get into character is amazing."
The film also stars Sonu Sood, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Suhasini Mulay
and Raza Murad.
The director is confident the audience will see exactly the vision in
his mind. "I'm working towards it. So far so good. You know, Akbar
once decided to not hunt a cheetah because he fell in love with it.
Instead he got it to be trained and put next to him in the
Diwan-e-Khas. But because of the animal-rights rule I can't have this
shown on screen.
"That's the kind of bearable compromise I'll have to make. But I'm
sticking to the authentic vision as much as possible. But I want the
Golden Period of the Mughal Empire to look as glamorous as possible."
http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/07/jan/31_jodha_akbar_ashutosh_gowarikar_hrithik_roshan_aishwarya_rai.asp
