Ashutosh Gowariker: Where is the Director Who Brought India to the Oscar Stage With Lagaan and Swades?

Ashutosh Gowariker turns 60 today. We wonder why the director of Lagaan and Swades hasn’t been producing films.

Indians were reminded of the day in 2001 when the diametrically opposed films Lagaan and Gadar were released on the same day and went on to become major hits when Barbie and Oppenheimer clashed in the theaters. Gadar catered to those who enjoyed yelling “Hindustan zindabad” alongside Sunny Deol, whereas Lagaan came as a total surprise. The majority of people were genuinely unaware of the true meaning behind the title, and the advertising materials for the movie only hinted that since it starred Aamir Khan, it would undoubtedly be worth our money. Ashutosh Gowariker, who was once thought to be the more skilled director, has mysteriously vanished, while Anil Sharma, the man behind Gadar, recently celebrated his huge homecoming with Gadar 2.

For Indians, Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan was a significant cultural event. Because there was an Indian film, and a beloved one at that, that was about to make history on the grandest platform internationally, it was perhaps the first time that Indians woke up at an ungodly hour to watch the Oscar telecast. However, the audience was brought together by Lagaan’s cinematic experience long before it was recognized with an Oscar. Everything seemed almost flawless, and it was like watching a live cricket match inside a movie where you knew the good people would win in the end.

As time passed, everyone told us stories that Ashutosh was a complete failure to work with when he was making the movie, with the exception of Aamir Khan. The documentary “Madness in the Desert” provided insight into the difficult process of creating the movie, which was nothing less than a struggle against the elements. Nevertheless, Ashutosh succeeded in creating a movie that was genuinely ageless in the end.

Even though Swades did not create the same level of excitement as Lagaan, it is currently regarded as one of the greatest patriotic movies of all time and unquestionably features one of Shah Rukh Khan’s best performances. Swades was one of the most anticipated movies of that year. His second movie, Jodhaa Akbar, was a period drama with a love tale at its core and an expansive canvas that the public found endearing. At this point, Ashutosh had established a reputation for producing films longer than three hours, although he consistently produced hits. After delivering three enormous hits in eight years, his Midas touch was no longer regarded as a coincidence.

Movie directors were more than simply the people behind the camera; they were the owners of their works and actively promoted them, thanks in large part to Karan Johar and the Koffee with Karan era. Not only were the main players in a movie responsible for its success, but the director also deserved recognition. In Ashutosh’s case, this was his moment because he was the director of three of his huge hits, each starring a different group of actors.

Ashutosh’s accomplishment was widely celebrated in the Hindi cinema business, but his infamous altercation with Sajid Khan at an award event happened shortly after Jodhaa Akbar. In terms of contrived controversy and manufactured reality, this was a moment that no one could have created. This occurred following his film Jodhaa Akbar’s victory for Best Film that evening, during which he was seen losing his composure during his acceptance speech.

With his subsequent projects, the director was unable to replicate the box office success of his trio of pictures. The audience that had formerly gone crazy for Ashutosh’s flicks did not warm up to this one. What’s Your Raashee is another unbelievably long film that he created starring Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja. The film’s concept was undoubtedly original; however, it was poorly executed. Not even the 2010 film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey was able to make an impact on the public. The 2016 film Mohenjo Daro vanished from sight, coinciding with the hateful outburst that Hrithik Roshan was subjected to on social media. The reason the movie hasn’t been able to gain any traction, even in retrospect, is that it wasn’t memorable enough.

Panipat, his most recent film that he directed in 2019, was immediately deemed unsuitable. Panipat received backlash for its casting and character appearances as soon as the trailers were unveiled, and the movie didn’t find favor with audiences.

The majority of these movies appeared to be from a genre that Ashutosh has already tackled. Jodhaa Akbar was symbolically brought to mind by Panipat. Khelein Hum and Mohenjo Daro Jee Jaan Sey made an effort to instill the same mentality as observed in Lagaan. Maybe it was also this familiarity with his films that prevented them from connecting. His early movies didn’t copy any existing structure, but when he tried to recreate the recipe for his earlier success, it didn’t work.

Ashutosh hasn’t produced any new films since 2019. Although he directed the National Award-winning picture Toolsidas Junior, he has not yet revealed the project he will be helming. Ashutosh returned to his origins as an actor when he starred in the Netflix series Kaala Paani, but that role served as a stark reminder of the days when Ashutosh was hailed as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema.

Team Profile

Kanika SolankiNews Writer

Kanika Solanki is a dedicated student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Delhi. With a passion for learning, Kanika actively seeks out opportunities to expand her skill set and explore new horizons. Previously, she served as a Content Writing Intern for Human Resources India, demonstrating her commitment to professional growth and excellence in communication.

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