Ashutosh Gowariker

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Ashutosh Gowariker
Gowariker at the launch of T P Aggarwal's trade magazine Blockbuster
Born (1964-02-15) 15 February 1964 (age 60)
Occupation(s)Director, producer, screenwriter, actor
Years active1984–present
Spouse
(m. 1988)

Ashutosh Gowariker (born 15 February 1964) is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer who works in

Hindi cinema. He is known for directing films "set on a huge canvas while boasting of an opulent treatment".[1]

He is best known for helming the epic musical sports drama Lagaan (2001), the social drama Swades (2004) and the epic historical romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director for Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar.

Lagaan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 74th Academy Awards, which makes him a voting member of the Academy Awards.[2][3] He returned to acting by playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed comedy drama Ventilator (2016).

Early life

Gowariker was born into a Marathi-speaking family to Ashok and Kishori Gowariker, in Kolhapur.[4][5] He is married to Sunita, Deb Mukherjee's daughter from his first marriage.[6][7] They have two sons, Konark and Vishwang.[8]

Career

Actor

Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director

C.I.D. (1998) and several films, including Naam (1986), Goonj (1989), Chamatkar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993). He returned to acting by playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed Marathi comedy drama Ventilator (2016), which was produced by Priyanka Chopra
. Allegedly, he took about 6 months to agree to do the film.

Director

Debut

Gowariker made his directorial debut with the thriller Pehla Nasha (1993), followed by another thriller Baazi (1995), both of which received negative reviews upon release and emerged as commercial disasters at the box-office.[9][10]

Widespread success

The 2000's proved to be the golden period of Gowariker's career, during which he produced and directed three of his most popular films to critical and commercial success.

His first film of the new millennium was the epic musical sports drama

anti-imperialist stance. The film emerged as a commercial success, grossing 65.97 crore (US$8.3 million) worldwide, ranking as the third highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[11][12] Lagaan earned Gowariker his first Filmfare Award for Best Director and the Filmfare Award for Best Story, in addition to the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and the Filmfare Award for Best Film. Lagaan was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, being the third, and as of 2023 the last, Indian film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay!
(1988) to be nominated for the award.

Shahrukh Khan pose for a photo with the Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center in the background during filming for the movie Swades

He next screenwrote and directed the social drama Swades (2004) starring Shahrukh Khan and debutante Gayatri Joshi in lead roles. The story of the film revolves around an NRI project manager at NASA, who returns to India to discover the challenges faced by a rural village, and dedicates himself to their development, addressing issues of education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The film received rave reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its direction, story, screenplay, soundtrack and performances of the cast. However, despite pre-release hype and good critical reception, it emerged as a commercial failure at the box office.[13] Swades earned Gowariker his second nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director. However, over the years, the film has achieved cult status.[14]

Gowariker's next screenwriting and directorial venture was the epic historical romantic drama

political marriage. It opened to widespread critical acclaim upon release, with high praise for its direction, soundtrack, cinematography, costume design, choreography and performances of the cast. The film emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, grossing 115 crore (US$14 million) worldwide, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[15] Jodhaa Akbar earned Gowariker his second Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director. The film was cited as "10 Great Bollywood Films of the 21st Century" by British Film Institute.[16]

Career decline

Gowariker's next venture was the romantic comedy

NRI who meets twelve potential brides, one from each zodiac sign, one of whom he must marry in ten days to save his brother from harm. It had its world premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its soundtrack and Chopra's performance, but criticism for its screenplay, runtime and pacing. It emerged as a below-average grosser at the box-office.[18]

His next venture was the

action-adventure Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010) starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. The film was based on Manini Chatterjee's Do And Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34, an account of the 1930 Chittagong armoury raid. It opened to mixed-to-negative reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office.[19]

After a 6-year hiatus, Gowariker made his comeback with the period action-adventure Mohenjo Daro (2016) starring Roshan (in their second collaboration) alongside debutante Pooja Hegde in lead roles.[20][21] Set in 2016 BC at the height of Indus Valley Civilisation, the film follows the story of a farmer who travels to the city of Mohenjo Daro, challenges the city's elite and fights against overwhelming odds to save the civilization. It received negative reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as Gowariker's second consecutive commercial disaster at the box-office.[22]

His next venture was the epic war drama Panipat (2019) starring Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. The film depicts the events that took place during the Third Battle of Panipat. It received negative reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as Gowariker's third consecutive commercial disaster at the box-office.[23]

Filmography

Director

Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes
1993 Pehla Nasha Yes Yes No
1995 Baazi Yes Yes No
2001 Lagaan Yes Yes No Nominated – Academy Award for Best International Feature Film[24]
Filmfare Award for Best Film
Filmfare Award for Best Director
Filmfare Award for Best Story
2004 Swades Yes Yes Yes Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Film
Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director
2008 Jodhaa Akbar Yes Yes Yes Filmfare Award for Best Film
Filmfare Award for Best Director
2009 What's Your Raashee? Yes Yes Yes
2010 Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Yes Yes Yes Nominated – Zee Cine Award for Best Story
2014 Everest No Yes Yes TV series
2016 Mohenjo Daro Yes Yes Yes
2019 Panipat Yes Yes Yes
2022 Toolsidas Junior No Yes Yes National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi

Actor

Year Films and television series Language Role
2023 Kaala Paani
Hindi
Lt. Governor Zibran Qadri
2016 Ventilator Marathi Raja Kamerkar
1998–1999
C.I.D.
Hindi
1998 Woh Hindi Ashutosh Dhar
1998 Sarkarnama Marathi
1995–2015 Aahat Hindi
1994 Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa Hindi Imran Bilal
1994 Vazir Marathi
1992 Jaanam Hindi Arun S. Rao
1992 Chamatkar Hindi Monty
1991 Indrajeet Hindi
1989 Circus Hindi Vicky
1989 Gawaahi Hindi Sayed Akhtar Rampuri
1989 Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro Hindi Abdul
1989 Kamla Ki Maut Hindi Deepak
1989 Indradhanush Hindi Mr. Appuswamy
1989 Ek Ratra Mantarleli Marathi Shekhar
1989 Goonj Hindi Sammy
1988
Jaat
Haryanvi
1988 Bharat Ek Khoj (TV series), episode 10: "Gautama Buddha" Hindi Prince Siddhartha / Buddha
1987 Kachchi Dhoop
Hindi
1987 West Is West English
1986 Naam Hindi Jai Singh Kalewar
1984 Holi Hindi Ranjeet Prakash

Awards

Film Award Category Result Ref.
Lagaan 74th Academy Awards
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominated [25]
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Director (Hindi) Won [26]
Bergen International Film Festival The Jury's Award Won [27]
European Film Academy Best Non-European Film Nominated [28]
47th Filmfare Awards Best Film Won [29]
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
3rd IIFA Awards
Best Film
Won [30][31]
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
Leeds International Film Festival Audience Award Won [32]
Locarno International Film Festival
Won [33]
49th National Film Awards Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Won [34][35]
NatFilm Festival Audience Award Won [36]
Portland International Film Festival Won [37]
Screen Awards Best Film Won [38][39]
Best Director Won
Best Story Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
Best Dialogue Nominated
Zee Cine Awards
Best Film
Won [40][41]
Best Director
Won
Best Story Won
Swades 50th Filmfare Awards Best Film Nominated [42][43]
Best Director Nominated
Zee Cine Awards Best Director (Critics) Won [44]
Best Story Won
Stardust Awards
Dream Director
Won
Jodhaa Akbar 54th Filmfare Awards Best Film Won [45][46]
Best Director Won
10th IIFA Awards Best Film Won [47][48]
Best Director Won
Producers Guild Film Awards Best Film Nominated [49][50]
Best Director Nominated
Golden Minbar International Film Festival
Best Film – Grand Pix Won [51]
São Paulo International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Foreign Feature Film Won [52]
Screen Awards Best Film Won [53][54]
Best Director Won
Stardust Awards Best Film of the Year Nominated [55]
Best Director Nominated
Dream Director Won
V. Shantaram Awards Best Director Bronze Award Won [56]
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Zee Cine Awards Best Story Nominated [57]

References

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External links

Awards
Filmfare Awards
Preceded by
Best Director
for Lagaan

2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Best Story
for Lagaan

2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Best Director
for Jodhaa Akbar

2009
Succeeded by