Source: DNA India
Date: June 7, 2014
By: Upala KBR
Ashutosh Gowariker talks about his film based on the Indus Valley Civilisation Post Jodhaa Akbar, Ashutosh Gowariker and Hrithik Roshan have teamed up for another period film, Mohenjo-Daro, which is based on one of the major cities of the Indus Valley civilisation and which lies in Pakistan. Ashutosh is currently completing his TV series (fiction) Everest which he is producing after which he will begin his epic film. A chat with the filmmaker on Mohenjo-Daro.
Why did you choose the subject of Mohenjo-daro as the backdrop of your story?
The Indus Valley civilisation has fascinated me since my school days when we read about it in history. Though I made other films Mohenjo-daro always remained at the back of my mind. After Jodhaa Akbar I started reading on the subject in detail and as I researched more I realised that there is so little one knows about this period. Though a lot of romanticisation of these times have been done still we don’t know much and yet there is constant talk about it as a forgotten world I could bring that to my film with a romantic touch. So I wrote a love story spread across those times. Though it is essentially a love story the core of the story is Mohenjo-daro — seen through the eyes of the lovers.
Why Hrithik as the hero?
I want to say that I am thrilled to be back with Hrithik after Jodhaa Akbar. We had worked together four years ago. I wrote my first draft of Mohenjo-Daro three years ago and I thought of him as my hero. I am glad Hrithik and I are working together on this. He will single-handedly bring great value to my film and enhance it tremendously with his presence.
Such a film requires research.
I have done that. I have read all the books of archaeologists who worked at those sites and met some of them. I have been to the Harappan city Dholavira, in India. It’s one of the cities of the Indus Valley civilisation that still exists today.
It’s rumoured that you have approached various actresses from Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma as the female lead opposite Hrithik.
We have not approached any actress as yet but we will be shortlisting someone soon within the next 10 days.
Making history again
Hrithik says, “It’s very rare to come across a vision that challenges every aspect of the norm. That defies your ability of the physical and mental. A film that is truly about spirit. Add to that an epic love story set in ancient India. The Indus Valley Civilisation is very centric to India. But more than anything I am truly excited to once again be working with Ashutosh. I think the right words would be... ‘We’re BACK!’”