An epic love
by: Lata Khubchandani
- expressindia.com
After the super success of Lagaan followed by critical acclaim of Swades, Ashutosh Gowariker has found for himself a place among the biggies of Bollywood. With success comes expectations and no one is more aware of this than the 40-year-old director.
When he announced his next film, Jodha-Akbar on the lives of Emperor Akbar and his wife, audiences drew in a breath of anticipation, sure that he would make an enchanting film. "If audiences come out of the film saying, yes this must have happened, I’ll be more than satisfied," says the film-maker, who commences shooting in Delhi and Agra shortly.
Obviously the director enjoys a challenge. "I’ve had the story with me since 2001, and have been researching it ever since. For me, the interest comes from the fact that no one talks about the youth of Akbar and Jodhabai," he explains. "Their’s was an arranged marriage. It was more of a political alliance, but it was a strong, good marriage. The two must have fallen in love later as happens in most arranged marriages. I’m delving into that part of their life—till the age of 27 when Salim was born."
Gowariker travelled to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur researching his film. In Rajasthan, he discovered that the maharaja and maharani of Jaipur are descendants of Jodhabai. Needless to say, they’ve lent support to the film.
Gowariker also met with historians from Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Milia University, and has been reading up on as much available literature on the period, imbibing even the smallest details of the personal lives of the Mughal king and queen. "But the research keeps going on, I like to keep adding layers to the story," says the film-maker. "There are aspects of Akbar that I’m discovering even now though my script is ready."
The casting is intriguing too. "Hrithik is a fabulous actor," says Gowariker. "The plus point is his physique, his features and his elegance. All of that is very princely. Aishwarya, on the other hand, is very appropriate for Jodha. She was a Rajput in a new environment and had to hold her own. She was strong-minded and Aishwarya projects a lot of strength effortlessly."
Related Links:
03/11/06 Hrithik, Ash perfect for Jodha-Akbar - associatedpress
03/06/06 Ashutosh Gowariker's quest for historical accuracy
Jodha-Akbar: News Updates
