Ashutosh Gowariker

Biography:  Ashutosh Gowariker is an Indian actor, director, writer, and producer. Ashutosh Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director Ketan Mehta's movie, Holi. After that, he acted in several television serials, including Kachchi Dhoop (1987), Circus (1989), C.I.D. (1999) and several films, including Naam (1986), Chamatkar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993). The 1993 movie, Pehla Nasha (inspired by Brian De Palma's Hollywood movie, Body Double) marked Gowariker's directorial debut. It was a failure at the box office. His second movie, Baazi (1995), starring Aamir Khan, was a "below average" grosser at the box office. Gowariker also acted in a weekly horror show, "Woh", on Zee TV, which was critically acclaimed. In 2001, Gowariker directed the period epic movie, Lagaan, produced by and starring Aamir Khan. Lagaan, the story of a cricket match between British officers and Indian villagers in the late 19th century, was released to great critical acclaim at home and abroad. It was nominated for an Academy Award in the USA in the category of Best Foreign Language Film. It ranked third among 2001's Indian movies in terms of gross revenue. In 2004, Gowariker directed Swades, starring Shahrukh Khan. Swades also received high critical acclaim. It was popular overseas, but it did not do well at the box office in India. Gowariker is known as an "actor's director". All of his male stars have won either the Filmfare Best Actor Award or the Critics' Best Actor Award. Gowariker's latest directorial work, Jodhaa Akbar, another period epic starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, was released on February 15, 2008. It received widespread acclaim in India and overseas. Gowariker also directed the film What's Your Raashee?, a romantic comedy starring Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja.