Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, who has directed critically acclaimed films such as Swades, Jodhaa Akbar and Lagaan, has revealed that his 2016 period action-adventure film Mohenjo Daro is his favourite film, even though it did not perform well at the box office. The film starred Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles.
Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, who directed the 2004 classic Swades starring Shah Rukh Khan, has also appreciated the reference to his film in the recent films like Jawan and Brahmastra.
Ashutosh Gowariker on Mohenjo Daro
In an interview with PTI, Gowariker said that he analysed why the film did not connect with the audience and realised that his screenplay was not effective in creating the right emotional response. He said that no amount of great scale or superb performance by Hrithik Roshan could save the film if the story did not resonate with the viewers. However, he added that he still loves the film and has not abandoned it yet.
“It sent me into an analysis (mode) about why it didn’t work. I realised that the story didn’t connect. My screenplay went wrong in creating the right emotional response that the audience should feel what the character is going through. So, no amount of great scale is going to help that. But still, Mohenjo Daro is my favourite film, just putting it on record. I haven’t abandoned the film yet,” he said.
Ashutosh Gowariker on Swades references
Gowariker also expressed his happiness over the references to his 2004 film Swades, starring Shah Rukh Khan, in two upcoming films – Jawan and Brahmastra: Part One Shiva. He said that it was flattering and clever to see how the filmmakers used Swades as a homage to his work.
In Jawan, Riddhi Dogra plays the role of Kaveri Amma, who is Shah Rukh’s adoptive mother in Swades. He said that he was especially impressed by Ayan Mukerji, who was his assistant director on Swades, and how he incorporated Shah Rukh Khan’s cameo as a scientist named Mohan Bhargav in Brahmastra.
Talking about references to his film Swades, Ashutosh said, “It is very flattering (to see Swades references). The use is very clever. It was smartly done. When you are doffing your hat to a film that you have seen or has left an impression on you, the placement and position of that has to be done carefully. In both cases, they have done a slightly tongue-in-cheek kind of thing.”
Gowariker is currently making his comeback as an actor in the Netflix series Kaala Paani, directed by Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani. The series is a survival drama about a group of people trapped on an island with no way out.
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