First look of 'Jodha-Akbar' out this weekend

Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS) Director Ashutosh Gowariker finally breathes a sigh of relief as the theatrical trailer of his period love story 'Jodha-Akbar', starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, is unveiled this weekend.

'It's been a gruelling but rewarding time. I've been virtually sleeping on the sets. But, finally, we've zeroed-in on Jan 25 as the release date,' Gowariker told IANS.

'It's a good week because we get the full three-day holiday weekend, Republic Day and all.'

'Rang De Basanti' was released during the same weekend two years ago.

'Was it?' Gowariker seemed unaware of the coincidence.

'It just seems like the right moment. It's a pity we couldn't make it on schedule on Oct 12.'

The director, who earlier made acclaimed films like 'Lagaan' and 'Swades', still has one song to shoot, which he will do as soon as Aishwarya returns from Boston after shooting her 'Pink Panther' movie.

The epic's postponement has given two other biggish films 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' a chance to get released on this Friday, just ahead of Eid.

'We aren't attaching the trailer to any of the two films,' informed the director. 'It goes into theatres independently.'

But it is just a coincidence that the 'Jodha-Akbar' trailer is being released during the same week that the film was earlier supposed to release?

'You can call it a pleasant coincidence,' said the director.