One
can
sense
a
certain
passion
in
Ashutosh
Gowariker
when
you
converse
with
him
on
films,
whether
the
ones
directed
by
him
or
in
general.
Though
he
has
made
films
like
What's
Your
Raashee?
Baazi
or
Pehla
Nasha
as
well,
he
would
forever
be
known
as
the
man
who
made
Lagaan,
Jodhaa
Akbar
and
Swades.
No
wonder,
when
he
gets
ready
with
Khelein
Hum
Jee
Jaan
Sey
starring
Abhishek
Bachchan
and
Deepika
Padukone,
an
instant
connect
comes
in
since
you
immediately
relate
to
him
as
a
director
who
is
known
for
making
period
dramas.
On
the
eve
of
the
film's
release,
we
catches
up
with
Ashutosh
Gowariker,
shares
expectations
from
the
film
and
how
there
is
a
distinct
flavour
that
gets
attached
to
every
cinematic
outing
that
the
filmmaker
has.
Here
is
presenting
Part
I
of
the
conversation.
A
grand
setting,
huge
visual
appeal,
extravagant
treatment
-
all
of
this
is
pretty
much
expected
when
a
film
of
yours
arrives
in
theaters....
And
you
will
get
that
in
KHJJS
Still,
it
wasn't
designed
that
way;
it
comes
in
here,
because
that's
a
function
of
the
story
that
has
been
chosen.
The
film
is
a
period
thriller
which
is
about
a
revolution
in
undivided
Bengal.
The
moment
you
announce
such
a
subject,
there
is
a
definite
requirement
of
a
research
leading
to
detailing
and
grandeur
which
is
required
for
that
period.
When
you
tell
audience
that
a
film
is
set
in
the
30s,
there
is
specific
expectation
that
comes
in
because
they
now
want
to
enter
another
world.
I
have
tried
to
do
that
here
whereas
in
What's
Your
Raashee?
,
it
wasn't
required
since
the
film
was
set
in
a
contemporary
world.
In
case
of
KHJJS,
grandeur
comes
in
automatically
though
things
have
been
kept
far
more
realistic.
You
just
mentioned
What's
Your
Raashee?
.
Do
you
think
that
for
any
filmmaker,
putting
together
a
simple
film
like
that
could
be
far
less
grueling
than
say
a
Khelein....
or
a
Jodhaa
Akbar
which
could
be
a
production
nightmare?
Yes,
making
a
What's
Your
Raashee?
is
easier.
In
case
of
a
period
drama,
you
have
to
be
extremely
meticulous
in
every
stage
of
the
filmmaking
process,
right
from
writing,
pre-production
to
core
production.
You
have
to
bring
in
your
crew
members
to
create
that
period
and
have
their
huge
involvement
in
terms
of
time
as
well.
Your
team
has
to
be
totally
there.
For
me,
80%
of
my
direction
is
on
paper;
it
is
in
my
pre-production.
The
execution
through
shooting
is
comparatively
the
easiest
part.
But
then
a
period
drama
also
comes
with
challenges
other
than
just
production
as
well,
isn't
it?
After
all,
you
have
experienced
it
first
hand
with
Jodhaa
Akbar
where
things
went
out
of
hand
due
to
conflicts
around
historic
references.
See,
what
happened
in
case
of
Jodhaa
Akbar
was
that
nobody
actually
knew
about
what
had
happened
between
Jodhaa
and
Akbar.
People
did
have
some
idea
about
Akbar
or
his
relationship
with
Salim
through
Mughal-E-Azam.
For
that
matter,
even
Birbal
was
a
known
figure.
However,
in
case
of
'Akbar',
people
got
to
know
that
he
was
in
fact
illiterate
only
after
the
release
of
Jodhaa
Akbar.
It
was
unfortunate
that
objections
had
come
out
around
its
release
despite
the
fact
that
my
source
material,
a
couple
of
books,
was
so
strong.
My
intent
was
not
to
rake
a
debate,
but
sadly
that
happened.
Ashu,
there
were
debates
in
your
professional
life
as
well
when
What's
Your
Raashee?
didn't
work
at
the
box
office.
It
was
being
opined
that
you
worked
best
when
it
came
to
historic
dramas.
Tell
me
honestly,
were
you
actually
taken
aback
by
some
of
the
criticism
that
came
its
way?
(After
a
pause)
I
look
at
it
like
this
way;
even
during
Jodhaa
Akbar
there
were
these
5-6
important
and
good
reviews.
On
the
other
hand,
there
were
quite
a
few
other
reviews
which
were
not
that
good.
Ultimately,
it
was
the
film
that
spoke
for
itself
and
hence
got
appreciation
and
box
office.
I
feel
that
a
review
is
an
opinion.
Yes,
it
can
influence
the
mind
of
the
reader
but
at
the
end
of
it
all,
it
is
still
an
opinion
of
a
person
who
is
reviewing
it.
It
still
makes
a
difference,
isn't
it?
I
can
get
upset,
but,
no
matter
how
upset
I
get,
it
doesn't
change
anything.
Yes,
I
can
read
the
review
and
think
'Oh
my
God,
someone
hasn't
liked
my
film'.
Of
course,
I
will
be
surprised
and
think
about
it
a
little
as
well.
But
ultimately,
a
film
has
to
do
the
talking
regardless
of
whether
the
review
works
for
it
or
not.
Yes,
for
me,
a
review
can
be
upsetting
but,
I
don't
look
at
it
beyond
a
point
in
time.
On
a
personal
note,
though,
did
you
see
equations
changing
within
the
film
fraternity
once
What's
Your
Raashee?
didn't
work
at
the
box
office?
There
could
have
been
a
rise
in
detractors
after
all.
Fortunately,
for
me,
even
after
What's
Your
Raashee?
,
things
hadn't
changed
so
much.
Yes,
there
was
a
kind
of
surprise
around
what
went
wrong
with
the
film.
Many
felt
that
it
was
the
length
of
the
film
that
played
truant.
Still,
the
sense
towards
me
or
the
relationships
that
I
have
with
everyone
didn't
see
any
change.
Or
I
would
rather
put
it
this
way,
that
I
didn't
feel
that
change
(smiles).
To
read
Part
II
of
the
interview....click
here