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Ashutosh Gowariker doesn't budge. He can be as resolute as Bhuvan, Mohan and Akbar, his reel heroes. Ask his wife, producer Sunita. For Jodhaa Akbar (2008), the filmmaker refused to entertain her and art director Nitin Desai's request that the walls of the set for Agra Fort be brought down from the original 70 to 45 feet, given the budget constraints. After all, who'd notice if they measured the same? Gowariker would.

For his fourth period film, Mohenjo Daro, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Lagaan (2001) rejected the idea that the set for the citadel of the ancient civilisation be constructed in Mumbai. Gowariker argued that the colour of sky in Bhuj, where the film was eventually shot for six months, would be different from that of the metropolis. But would the audience notice the colour of the sky? Gowariker would.

"It can be annoying," laughs Sunita, who has controlled the budgets of all his films since Swades (2004). "He doesn't compromise on his craft. He doesn't cheat himself and his audience. Of course, any producer would want a film to be made with less money. I keep telling him, 'Oh my God! Not again. Why can't you think normal?' But I know he enjoys creating another world." Mohenjo Daro sees Gowariker, 52, return to his favourite genre, historical fiction, after two back-to-back flops - What's Your Raashee? (2009) and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010). A lot's at stake, more so since Mohenjo Daro has a few parallels with the film that catapulted Gowariker to fame.

Like Lagaan, the most successful of the eight films Gowariker has made in a directorial career spanning 23 years, Mohenjo Daro was shot in the sweltering heat of Bhuj, features a new female actor (Pooja Hegde), has music by A.R. Rahman and will be screened at the Locarno International Film Festival. Will it be as successful as the Aamir Khan-starrer which had audiences off their seats rooting for Team India? That we'll know only after August 12.

What we do know going by Mohenjo Daro's trailer is that it demonstrates Gowariker's unflinching love for a big canvas, and a desire to not just come up with inspiring characters, but also rebuild eras. Audiences who whine about his protracted films-"If you name a gif Ashutosh Gowariker, even that will go on for about three hours," tweeted Avinash Iyer, a social media/community manager at Tickled Media, recently-don't perturb him. "For me, the length is determined by the genre," he says, sitting in his Khar office. If Gowariker and his team have spent three years on a project, surely audiences can set aside 2 hours and 30 minutes - the duration of Mohenjo Daro?

History wasn't even Gowariker's favourite subject in school. "I used to get bored remembering dates," he says. Instead, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Mithibai College, Mumbai, where he also met his wife while participating in an intercollege folk dance competition. "I'm compensating for my lack of interest now," he laughs. "It's just a beautiful coincidence." While scouting locations for Lagaan in 1999, he was given a walk-through of Dholavira, the archaeological site containing remnants of a Harappan city in Kutch, Gujarat. He wondered why there were enough Hollywood films on ancient civilisations and next to none here on our own ancestors. "Someday," he said. Fifteen years later, he was on it. That meant devouring the works of Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, a US archaeologist and an expert on the Indus Valley civilisation. Gowariker flew in Kenoyer along with five Indian archaeologists who have worked on Dholavira and other sites, and shared his vision with them. Kenoyer later came to Bhuj to see the sets and props. "I like to secure myself with knowledge from historians because without that I don't have the conviction to make the movie," says Gowariker.

Despite being behind two of the most popular films of the 21st century in Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar, Gowariker, after all these years in the film industry, still feels like an outsider. He did not go to film school, and does not come from a filmmaking family. His father, Ashok, was a police officer who had a penchant for films. You don't see him on the party circuit and neither is he on Facebook or Twitter. "If I am able to answer your SMS within six hours, it is a big achievement," he says, adding though that "I'm not a recluse. I'm a fun guy." His journey in filmmaking started in front of the cameras-first as a model, then as an actor, working with new-wave directors like Saeed Mirza, Kundan Shah, Ketan Mehta and Amol Palekar. "I have subconsciously imbibed a lot from them," he says.

He may be as ambitious as the legendary Cecil B. DeMille, but he identifies more with David Lean, Akira Kurosawa and Steven Spielberg. "I crave the immense control they have on the art of storytelling," he says. "Some day, I'll make a film which has that control." In Indian history he has a treasure trove of stories he can revisit for it.

"My role is a surprise element in Mohenjo Daro'", says Narendra Jha

Be it the daily soap Begusarai', Aamrapali', Supercops vs Supervillains' or blockbuster film like Haider', Ghayal Once Again', Shorgul', Raees' and Mohenjo Daro', Narendra Jha leaves no stone unturned when it comes to his profession which is fullfilled by sheer dedication and hard work. The hard working actor in an exclusive interview with Mamta Sonar talks about his new film and many more...

Working in big films like Mohenjo Daro' and Raees' how was an experience with a big star like Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan?

> My experience was very good. Both the stars are very polite and helpful, they co-operate with their co-stars because end of the role of scene is putforth in a convincing manner. Shah Rukh and Hrithik support co-stars so they can do their work very sincerely. They both work as a team member. Both are very good human beings. My experience was fabulous while working with both the actors.

After Mohenjo Daro' I'm working with Hrithik in his next film Kaabil'. Dircected by Sanjay Gupta and Produced by Rakesh Roshan.

Which role you are playing with Hrithik Roshan in Mohenjo Daro'?

> My role is basically a surprise for audience. I can't reveal my role now. But my role is very important and it will be liked by the audience. It is soul of the Mohenjo Daro'. In Raees' I'm playing the role of Mumbai Don'.

How did the opportunity in Raees and Mohenjo Daro land in your hands?

> I had not done audition for Raees' or Mohenjo Daro'. Before Haider', I called for meeting for the role in Raees', after meeting they changed my role. They offered me role of "Mumbai Don". My role is not much so big but it is very important role in the movie. For Kaabil', Ghayal Once Again' dialogue writer he called me, I meet me Sanjay Gupta from there I met Rakesh Roshan.

No audition and no replacement. In fact, in Ghayal Once Again' also I have no replacement it's depends on director how must he trust's you.

Tell us something about your journey from TV show Begusarai' to Bollywood movie - Raees' and Mohenjo Daro'.

> It was very smooth, My journey from small screen to big screen has been very smooth in fact frankly speaking I never realise that this journey is going to be like from one journey to another journey. I never made a special thought for that infact in Haider I was casted for Haider's father Dr. Hilal Meer character nothing for the scenario. Even today also in the small screen a lot of people want to work with me.