Ashutosh Gowariker

Birthday: 15 February 1964

An actor who took up directing after almost a decade, Ashutosh Gowariker is one of those rare people who take the path less taken and, although it was a rough going, he is now one of India's elite directors. He began his film career modeling in commercials by Govind Nihalani and Jenny Pinto. He entered Hindi cinema with Ketan Mehta's Holi (1985), as Ranjeet Prakash, one of the main protagonists. His acting career continued with Mahesh Bhatt's Naam (1986), David Rathod's West Is West (1987), Saeed Akhtar Mirza's Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989), Jalal Agha's Goonj (1989), Anant Balani's Gawaahi (1989), and Kundan Shah's Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994). He also acted in award-winning Marathi-language films such as the Ujwal Thengdi creation Vazir (1994) and Shrabani Deodhar's Sarkarnama (1998). Alongside these features, TV serials like Amol Palekar's Kachchi Dhoop (1987), the Saeed Akhtar Mirza & Aziz Mirza-Kundan Shah collaboration Circus (1989), and Pradeep Uppoor and B.P. Singh's C.I.D. (1998) also found him in front of the camera and, incidentally, brought him into contact with the finest minds in contemporary Indian cinema.All the exposure gave Gowariker a desire to helm the camera and in 1993 he made his directorial debut with Pehla Nasha (1993), a whodunit about a struggling actor who gets drawn into a murder surrounding the death of a millionaire heiress. It didn't do well at the box office, but his next venture, Baazi (1995), enjoyed average success. It told the story of the nexus between politicians, gunrunners and terrorists and a righteous cop (Aamir Khan) who is hell-bent on breaking this ring. Then came what is still considered his greatest success: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001). The film veered away from most norms used in the making of a commercial Hindi film--it was a period drama set in rural India; its language was a dialect; a British cast was included; it is a musical; and, above all, it's a film about sports. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film and earned worldwide raves for its direction. In the meantime, Gowariker directed a series of five commercials for Coca-Cola. These too became hits and won accolades at every advertising function in India. Currently, he is basking in the glory of his third film, Swades: We, the People (2004), which, although not as great a hit as Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), is being praised by critics. His next film is Jodhaa Akbar (2008), which the international film community waits for with bated breath. Hide

The grammar of making a movie and, as far as I can tell, the process is the same be it in America or Show more The grammar of making a movie and, as far as I can tell, the process is the same be it in America or India.The difference lies in the marketing. Hide

I have a studied theory, which is that all of us essentially originate from the same village. It's o Show more I have a studied theory, which is that all of us essentially originate from the same village. It's over the passage of time that we have migrated to metropolis and overseas. Hide

Patriotism for me is not something in competition with an outsider but something within myself. Why Show more Patriotism for me is not something in competition with an outsider but something within myself. Why is that our patriotism is only restricted to the one-day of matches of India and Pakistan or war at Kargil? In our day-to-day life we have no qualms of jumping traffic lights, messing with public property and abusing our rights. I'm not choosing these subjects because I want to project myself noble. I'm making the film because I want to highlight the indignity of human existence. Hide

Films must entertain but also leave something behind with the audience. Films must entertain but also leave something behind with the audience.

Aamir Khan and I were supposed to do a Hollywood film together in the wake of Lagaan, but both of us Show more Aamir Khan and I were supposed to do a Hollywood film together in the wake of Lagaan, but both of us are not the kind to strategise proposals. Cinema has to come from the heart. It has to move to you, matter to you; to an extent that it haunts and hunts you, like Swades did for me to plunge headlong. I have an agent in Los Angeles and he is upset because he has sent me so many proposals over the years and I have refused everything. He often asks me if I am serious about an international project because he doubts my intentions. I tell him I cannot be rushed or pushed into a proposal. I have to follow my rhythm and heart. He is feeling frustrated because I'm refusing to make a trip to LA. He argues that everything cannot be done via email. It can't but right now I am not going anywhere because my heart is set in my country. Hide

Ashutosh Gowariker's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (5) as Director (1) as Creator (1)

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

Chamatkar

Kaala Paani - Season 1 [Audio: Hindi]

The Kapil Sharma Show - Season 1

Kaala Paani - Season 1 [Audio: Eng]

Swades: We, the People