Ashutosh Gowariker's passion for cinema is evident in every frame he captures, drawing you in with his captivating storytelling. A talented actor turned director, he spent almost a decade in front of the camera before taking the leap behind the lens. With a diverse range of acting credits in Hindi and Marathi films, television serials, and commercials, it was only a matter of time before he ventured into direction.
His directorial debut, Pehla Nasha, a murder mystery released in 1993, may not have been a commercial success, but it laid the groundwork for his future projects. The thriller Baazi, released in 1995, showed promise, and Ashutosh continued to hone his craft.
The breakthrough came with Lagaan, a period drama set in rural India, featuring a British cast, and a sports film that earned international acclaim. The film's meticulous execution and evocative performances earned it a nomination at the Academy Awards in the Best Film in a Foreign Language category for 2001.
Ashutosh's fourth feature film, Swades, was a self-written, self-produced, and self-directed effort, starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film received critical acclaim and achieved huge success worldwide.
In 2008, he released his magnum opus, Jodhaa Akbar, an epic romance starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film won numerous awards, including the Best Foreign Film in the International Film Festival of Sao Paulo and the Grand Prix Best Film in the International Film Festival Golden Minbar.
What's Your Raashee?, his first romantic comedy, was based on the Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood and featured Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra. Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, a period thriller, starred Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, based on the book 'DO and DIE: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34' by Manini Chatterjee.
His last release, Mohenjo Daro, set in the Indus Valley Civilization, starred Hrithik Roshan and debutant Pooja Hegde. Ashutosh's newest magnum opus, Panipat, is currently in production and is slated to release on December 6th, 2019. Based on the legendary third battle of Panipat, which took place on 14th January 1761 between the Marathas and King of Afghanistan, Panipat promises to be his grandest outing yet.
