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Ashutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker at the launch of T P Aggarwal's trade magazine 'Blockbuster' 15.jpg
Gowariker at the launch of T P Aggarwal's trade magazine Blockbuster
Born (1964-02-15) 15 February 1964 (age 59)
Occupation Director, producer, screenwriter, actor
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s) Sunita Mukherjee

Ashutosh Gowariker (born 15 February 1964) is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer who works in Hindi cinema. He is known for directing films "set on a huge canvas while boasting of an opulent treatment".

His works include Lagaan (2001), Swades (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), What's Your Raashee? (2009), Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010) and Mohenjo Daro (2016).

His film Lagaan was nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 74th Academy Awards, which makes him a voting member of the Academy Awards. He returned to acting by playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed comedy drama Ventilator (2016).

Early life

Gowariker was born in a Marathi family to Ashok and Kishori Gowariker. His family hails from Kolhapur. He is married to Sunita (Deb Mukherjee's daughter from his first marriage) and they have two sons, Konark and Vishwang.

Career

Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director Ketan Mehta's picture Holi. On the Holi sets, Gowariker met Aamir Khan with whom he go on to collaborate with years later. After that, he acted in several television serials, including Kacchi Dhoop (1987), Circus (1989), C.I.D. (1998) and several films, including Naam (1986), Chamatkar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993).

In 1993, he made his directorial debut with Pehla Nasha. His second movie Baazi (1995), starred Aamir Khan.

In 2001, Gowariker wrote and directed the period epic movie Lagaan, produced by and starring Aamir Khan. Lagaan was the story of a cricket match between British officers and Indian villagers in the late 19th century. It ranked third among 2001's Indian movies in terms of gross revenue.

Aamir had rejected the film within 5 minutes of narration and told Gowariker that it was a bizarre thought."When I heard Lagaan, in five minutes of its narration, I rejected it. I was like it is a story of people who are not able to pay lagaan as there are no rains and they play cricket with British people! I was like, ‘What a bizarre thought is this!’ I told Ashutosh, ‘This is a strange story.’ I told him to get me a different story," Aamir had told Pinkvilla in his 2018 interview.

After three months, Gowariker approached Aamir again, but this time with a complete script. Aamir was irritated that Gowariker kept working on it and rejected the film the second time. "But when I heard the story, I was into it. I loved the final script of Lagaan and found it unbelievable. I told him, ‘It is a fantastic script and it does break the record of mainstream cinema. But I am scared to say yes. I can't do it’,” he had said.

Later, when Gowariker narrated the story to Aamir's parents, they were moved to tears and told the actor to do the film.

Lagaan is set in 1893, during the late Victorian period of India's colonial British Raj. The story revolves around a small village in Central India, whose inhabitants, burdened by high taxes, accept a challenge to play a cricket match against a team of British officers. It they win the match, their taxes would be excused, but failing to win would mean having to pay triple taxes.

KSC-04PD-1105 2
Ashutosh Gowariker, his wife Sunita and actor Shahrukh Khan pose for a photo with the Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center in the background during filming for the movie Swades

In 2004, Gowariker directed Swades, starring Shahrukh Khan.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008), another historical epic romance set in the 16th century, starred Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.

Gowariker's romantic comedy What's Your Raashee? (2009), starred Priyanka Chopra in 12 roles and Harman Baweja.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010), about the Chittagong Uprising set in undivided Bengal of 1930, starred Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone.

In 2016, Gowariker directed the film Mohenjo Daro, starring Hrithik Roshan. He returned to acting by playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed comedy drama Ventilator (2016), which was produced by Priyanka Chopra. Allegedly, he took about 6 months to agree to do the film.

Filmography

Director

Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes
1993 Pehla Nasha Yes Yes No
1995 Baazi Yes Yes No
2001 Lagaan Yes Yes No Nominated – Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
2004 Swades Yes Yes Yes Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Film
2008 Jodhaa Akbar Yes Yes Yes Filmfare Award for Best Film
2009 What's Your Raashee? Yes Yes Yes
2010 Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Yes Yes Yes Nominated – Zee Cine Awards for Best Story
2014 Everest No Yes Yes TV series
2016 Mohenjo Daro Yes Yes Yes
2019 Panipat Yes Yes Yes
2022 Toolsidas Junior No Yes Yes Winner - 68th National Film Awards, National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
2024 Untitled Project with Aamir Khan Yes Yes No

Actor

Year Films and television series Language
2016 Ventilator Marathi
1998–1999 C.I.D. Hindi
1998 Woh Hindi
1998 Sarkarnama Marathi
1995–2015 Aahat Hindi
1994 Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa Hindi
1994 Vazir Marathi
1992 Jaanam Hindi
1992 Chamatkar Hindi
1991 Indrajeet Hindi
1989 Circus Hindi
1989 Gawaahi Hindi
1989 Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro Hindi
1989 Kamla Ki Maut Hindi
1989 Indradhanush Hindi
1989 Ek Ratra Mantarleli Marathi
1989 Goonj Hindi
1988 Jaat Haryanvi
1988 Bharat Ek Khoj (TV series), episode 10: "Gautama Buddha" Hindi
1987 Kachchi Dhoop Hindi
1987 West Is West English
1986 Naam Hindi
1984 Holi Hindi

Awards

Film Award Category Result Ref.
Lagaan 74th Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film Nominated
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Director (Hindi) Won
Bergen International Film Festival The Jury's Award Won
European Film Academy Best Non-European Film Nominated
47th Filmfare Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
3rd IIFA Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
Leeds International Film Festival Audience Award Won
Locarno International Film Festival Audience Award Won
49th National Film Awards Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Won
NatFilm Festival Audience Award Won
Portland International Film Festival Audience Award Won
Screen Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Best Story Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
Best Dialogue Nominated
Zee Cine Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
Swades 50th Filmfare Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Zee Cine Awards Best Story (with MG Satya) Won
Critics Best Director Won
Stardust Awards Dream Director Won
Jodhaa Akbar 54th Filmfare Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
10th IIFA Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Producers Guild Film Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Golden Minbar International Film Festival Best Film – Grand Pix Won
São Paulo International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Foreign Feature Film Won
Screen Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Stardust Awards Best Film of the Year Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Dream Director Won
V. Shantaram Awards Best Director Bronze Award Won
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Zee Cine Awards 2011 Best Story Nominated
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