Harman and Priyanka are perfect: Ashutosh

By Subhash K Jha

Ashutosh Gowariker clears the misconceptions…. speaks exclusively on his new film.

How come this sudden announcement about a film with Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra?
It wasn't supposed to come out. I don't know how the news leaked out, and wrong news. People said it was based on a play. Actually it's based on a novel. It's book called Kimball Ravenswood by Madhu Rye. It takes me far away from my last three films.

But those three films were as far removed from one another as possible?
They were. Lagaan, Swades and Jodhaa-Akbar had the element of drama common to them. What's Your Rashi is a light frothy romantic comedy.

I've never done one of those before. After ten years and three films that required me to do rigorous research at last I'm doing a film that requires no research.

But surely you had a team to do research on those projects?
No I like to do it on my own. Only when I do the research am I able to absorb and understand the subject. In What's Your Raashee? I don't have to go into historical details.But a good comedy is a challenge of its own. The process of arriving at the humour is extremely difficult.

Weren't you supposed to do another film with Hrithik after Jodhaa-Akbar?
I am extremely keen. But right now he's extremely busy with his home productions. I've a subject for him which I'll do later. After Jodhaa-Akbar I was sure I wanted to do something non-historical light and fun.And I knew I wanted to make a romantic comedy. But I didn't know which script.

What kind of romantic comedy are you talking about?
I'm thinking of those middle-of-the-road films by Frank Capra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee like It's A Wonderful Life, Chupke Chupke and Baaton Baaton Mein.

How and why Harman and Priyanka?
When I saw Harman in his trailers of Love Story 2050 I requested his father to show me the rushes. He turned out to be fantastic. He's a superb actor.

I was confirmed in my belief that he's the best person for the part. Harman came into the picture first. Then I signed Priyanka. I'm very impressed by Love Story 2050. It breaks the mould, like Krissh.

If a person flies it was always said, 'Yeh Hanumanjee ki kripa hai'. If a person travels in time it's always reincarnation. Not in Krissh and Love Story 2050. It's a straight sci-fi film. A genre we're scared to attempt.

Isn't there a risk of people saying it's gimmicky casting?
I always go by my hunch. When I cast Hrithik in Jodhaa-Akbar I had heard the same complaints. 'Hrithik as Akbar? What's wrong with you?

You shouldn't make a historical, and that too with Hrithik.' Earlier during Lagaan people thought I had gone mad getting Aamir to wear a dhoti. I'm sure Harman will be absolutely correct for the part.

So are you taking this casting to be a challenge?
The challenge for me is the script. The actors come later. For the past two months I've been in a fragile state of mind wondering what I'd make next.

I was completely jittery. Now that I've made up my mind to make What's Your Rashi and my two protagonists are Harman and Priyanka are in place, the rest will just follow smoothly.

Are you anxious?
No, relieved. You'll be surprised to know I started Swades immediately after Lagaan and Jodhaa-Akbar right after Swades. So there's no prolonged period of turmoil for me. Only the research in the earlier films took longer. Since What's Your Rashi has no research I can start immediately.

Any changes from book to film?
Whatever is required to make it cinematic.There'd be songs. I've bought the rights from the author. I'll be co-writing the script with a colleague Naushil Mehta. But I won't be changing the basics.

So I can read the book and know the entire plot of your film?
(straightfaced) I've bought every available copy of the novel. You'll just have to wait for the film. No, I'm only kidding.