Mumbai:
Director Ashutosh Gowariker, who has showcased patriotic passion in movies like Lagaan and Swades says that the emotion comes easily to him but he has never used it deliberately in his projects.
"I connect naturally to the emotion of patriotism and it has come out in different flavours in Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar and now Khele Hum Jee Jaan Se. At the risk of sounding cliched, I would say that it is just a coincidence that I have expressed the sentiment of patriotism and national pride through my movies," Ashutosh told PTI.
The filmmaker said he was never interested in history as a school boy. "I think I am compensating for it," he said referring to his upcoming period thriller based on the 1930 Chittagong uprising, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone.
Ashutosh said Delhi-based journalist Manini Chaterjee's Do and Die on the Chittagong uprising left him stunned.
"I did not know about this uprising led by Surjiya Sen and the other revolutionaries of the 60s. The story fascinated me to make a film," he said.
The filmmaker admitted that it is tough to follow a single book while making a historic epice because history keeps evolving.
"But Manini is the daughter-in-law of Kalpana Dutta, the female revolutionary. She has interacted with all the survivors and hence had a first hand account on the uprising. Despite her busy schedule as a journalist, Manini has helped me with all the detailing like language, clothes ,to keep the historical accuracy intact," he said.
Ashutosh said that he was sure that Abhishek and Deepika will be convincing in the period film even though they had not worked in the genre earlier.
"That does not matter because actors essay what is given to them in the story and script. Deepika was always my first choice for the role of Kalpana Dutta. She is growing with every film and has brought simplicity on the screen. If you see the real Kalpana Dutta's photograph, Deepika bears an uncanny resemblance to her," he said.
He said the biggest challenge for Deepika was to de-glam herself which she did very well.
The adaptation of the book into a script has been done with the consent of Manini Chaterjee, he said adding that Khele Hum Jee Jaan Se was tough because it has the biggest ever cast he has handled.
"I had to justify all the characters and keep thespirit of the book intact," he said.
Saying that Khele Hum Jee Jaan Se was his shortest film of less than three hours, Ashutosh said he had made the film with the same faith, intensity, dedication as he had done What's Your Rashee?.
"Rest depends on the audience," he said. When asked about Shonali Bose's Chittagong Rising starring Manoj Bajpai, Ashutosh said it was "unfortunate" that two filmmakers should have the same ideas.
"But two filmmakers cannot make the same film the same way," he added. Ashutosh said the challenge in a period film is about pulling off a story about untold heroes.
"In the book, there is a hint of romance between Surjiya Sen and Kalpana Dutta and it has been captured in the film as well. But the focus in on the uprising," he added.
The filmmaker who has often been criticised for the long duration of his movies said, he would not be able to function if he continues to think about how the audience would react to his movies. "I always follow the heart and then decisions crystallise," he felt.
Speaking about the title, the filmmaker said the story was about young spirited boys who play with their lives for the country's sake. "The title is more spirited than just saying azaadi," he added.
"I connect naturally to the emotion of patriotism and it has come out in different flavours in Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar and now Khele Hum Jee Jaan Se. At the risk of sounding cliched, I would say that it is just a coincidence that I have expressed the sentiment of patriotism and national pride through my movies," Ashutosh told PTI.
The filmmaker said he was never interested in history as a school boy. "I think I am compensating for it," he said referring to his upcoming period thriller based on the 1930 Chittagong uprising, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone.
Ashutosh said Delhi-based journalist Manini Chaterjee's Do and Die on the Chittagong uprising left him stunned.
"I did not know about this uprising led by Surjiya Sen and the other revolutionaries of the 60s. The story fascinated me to make a film," he said.
The filmmaker admitted that it is tough to follow a single book while making a historic epice because history keeps evolving.
"But Manini is the daughter-in-law of Kalpana Dutta, the female revolutionary. She has interacted with all the survivors and hence had a first hand account on the uprising. Despite her busy schedule as a journalist, Manini has helped me with all the detailing like language, clothes ,to keep the historical accuracy intact," he said.
Ashutosh said that he was sure that Abhishek and Deepika will be convincing in the period film even though they had not worked in the genre earlier.
"That does not matter because actors essay what is given to them in the story and script. Deepika was always my first choice for the role of Kalpana Dutta. She is growing with every film and has brought simplicity on the screen. If you see the real Kalpana Dutta's photograph, Deepika bears an uncanny resemblance to her," he said.
He said the biggest challenge for Deepika was to de-glam herself which she did very well.
The adaptation of the book into a script has been done with the consent of Manini Chaterjee, he said adding that Khele Hum Jee Jaan Se was tough because it has the biggest ever cast he has handled.
"I had to justify all the characters and keep thespirit of the book intact," he said.
Saying that Khele Hum Jee Jaan Se was his shortest film of less than three hours, Ashutosh said he had made the film with the same faith, intensity, dedication as he had done What's Your Rashee?.
"Rest depends on the audience," he said. When asked about Shonali Bose's Chittagong Rising starring Manoj Bajpai, Ashutosh said it was "unfortunate" that two filmmakers should have the same ideas.
"But two filmmakers cannot make the same film the same way," he added. Ashutosh said the challenge in a period film is about pulling off a story about untold heroes.
"In the book, there is a hint of romance between Surjiya Sen and Kalpana Dutta and it has been captured in the film as well. But the focus in on the uprising," he added.
The filmmaker who has often been criticised for the long duration of his movies said, he would not be able to function if he continues to think about how the audience would react to his movies. "I always follow the heart and then decisions crystallise," he felt.
Speaking about the title, the filmmaker said the story was about young spirited boys who play with their lives for the country's sake. "The title is more spirited than just saying azaadi," he added.
