Ashutosh Gowariker (born 15 February 1964) is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer who works in Indian Hindi cinema. He is best known for directing period sports drama Lagaan (2001), the social drama Swades (2004) and 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. 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. He attended St. Theresa's High School in Bandra. Ashutosh is married to Sunita, Deb Mukherjee's daughter from his first marriage.Once again, love in Bombay They have two sons, Konark and Vishwang.
Career
Actor Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director Ketan Mehta's picture Holi. On the Holi sets, Gowariker met Aamir Khan with whom he later went on to collaborate on different film projects . After that, he acted in several television serials, including Kacchi Dhoop (1987), Circus (1989), 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.
Widespread success
His first film of the new millennium was the epic musical sports drama Lagaan, produced by and starring Aamir Khan alongside debutante Gracy Singh. The film revolved around the people of a small village in Victorian India who stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers. It received positive reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its direction, soundtrack, performances of the cast, and its anti-imperialist stance. The film emerged as a commercial success, grossing worldwide, ranking as the third highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. 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.
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. 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.
Gowariker's next screenwriting and directorial venture was the epic historical romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008) starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in lead roles. Set in the 16th century, the film depicted the life and romance between the Muslim Emperor Akbar of Mughal Empire and the Hindu Princess Jodhaa Bai of Amber, who married him on a 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 worldwide, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. 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.
Gowariker's next venture was the romantic comedy What's Your Raashee? (2009) starring Priyanka Chopra (in 12 roles) alongside Harman Baweja. Based on the Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood by the playwright and novelist Madhu Rye, the film told the story of a Gujarati 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.
His next venture was the historical 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.
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. 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.
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.
In 2024 Gowariker served as chairperson of the international jury at the 55th International Film Festival of India held from 20 November to 28 November.
His next directorial venture, starring Aamir Khan, is a Biographical Sports drama about cricketer Lala Amarnath, focusing on the 1952 India-Pakistan Test series.
Filmography
Director
Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes 1993 Pehla Nasha 1995 Baazi 2001 Lagaan Nominated – Academy Award for Best International Feature FilmFilmfare Award for Best FilmFilmfare Award for Best DirectorFilmfare Award for Best Story 2004 Swades Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best FilmNominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director 2008 Jodhaa Akbar Filmfare Award for Best FilmFilmfare Award for Best Director 2009 What's Your Raashee? 2010 Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Nominated – Zee Cine Award for Best Story2014 Everest TV series 2016 Mohenjo Daro 2019 Panipat 2022 Toolsidas Junior National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
Actor
YearFilms and television series Language Role2026SystemHindi Ravi Rajvansh2025April May 99MarathiJaie's father Ata Thambaycha Naay! Marathi Udaykumar Shirurkar2024Manvat MurdersMarathiRamakant Kulkarni 2023 Kaala Paani Hindi Lt. Governor Zibran Qadri 2016 Ventilator Marathi Raja Kamerkar 1998–1999 C.I.D. Hindi Inspector Virendra 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 Jeeva SakhaMarathiNagojirao "Nagya" Patil 1989 Circus Hindi Vicky Gawaahi Hindi Sayed Akhtar Rampuri Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro Hindi Abdul Kamla Ki Maut Hindi Deepak Indradhanush Hindi Mr. Appuswamy Ek Ratra Mantarleli Marathi Shekhar Goonj Hindi Sammy1988 Bharat Ek Khoj Hindi Prince Siddhartha / Buddha 1987 Kachchi Dhoop Hindi West Is West English 1986 Naam Hindi Jai Singh Kalewar 1984 Holi Hindi Ranjeet Prakash
Awards Film Award Category Result Lagaan Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Director (Hindi) Bergen International Film Festival The Jury's Award European Film Academy Best Non-European Film 47th Filmfare Awards Best Film Best Director Best Story 3rd IIFA Awards Best Film Best Director Best Story Leeds International Film Festival Audience Award Locarno International Film Festival 49th National Film Awards Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment NatFilm Festival Audience Award Portland International Film Festival Screen Awards Best Film Best Director Best Story Best Screenplay Best Dialogue Zee Cine Awards Best Film Best Director Best Story Swades 50th Filmfare Awards Best Film Best Director Zee Cine AwardsBest Director (Critics) Best Story Stardust Awards Dream Director Jodhaa Akbar54th Filmfare Awards Best Film Best Director 10th IIFA Awards Best Film Best Director Producers Guild Film Awards Best Film Best Director Golden Minbar International Film Festival Best Film – Grand Pix São Paulo International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Foreign Feature Film Screen Awards Best Film Best Director Stardust Awards Best Film of the Year Best Director Dream Director V. Shantaram Awards Best Director Bronze Award Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Zee Cine Awards Best Story VentilatorFilmfare Marathi AwardsFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Marathi
References
External links
Official website
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