How did Hrithik Roshan agree to do Mohenjo Daro?

Two years isn’t exactly a long time. Well, if you are an ardent Hrithik Roshan fan, then these two years can feel like an eternity. Add to the fact that Roshan’s last film Bang Bang had disappointed at the box-office. The actor himself must have been keen to get going with his next. 

The big moment finally arrived and Ashutosh Gowariker brought his entire army for the launch of his period drama Mohenjo Daro. Hrithik and rookie actor Pooja Hegde indulged in a litte bit of jig, followed by AR Rahman crooning the romantic number ‘Tu Hai’. 

Like Aamir Khan, Roshan too is known to be choosy about about his films.  

“If a script doesn’t ignite every cell in your body, then you shouldn’t take up that film at all,” said Roshan.

Well, it wasn’t easy for Ashutosh Gowariker to ignite every cell in Roshan’s body. 

“Ashutosh is a dear friend. He’d had given me great film in Jodhaa Akbar. He told me about the script, which I liked. However, I didn’t give my nod instantly. I waited for the script to be brought down from 200 pages to 80 pages. When it finally came down from 81 to 80, that is when I signed the film,” said Roshan. 

“Wish Ashutosh had given me a 30-page script, then I’d be able to do two films in a year," Roshan joked, when quzized why he does only one film in few years.

Meanwhile, the same question evoked an humble response from Ashutosh Gowariker. “The reason I’m coming after six years is that because my last two films (Khelein Hum Ji Jaan Sey and What’s Yoru Rashee) failed,” he said.

After an impressive poster, and the motion picture teaser, Mohenjo Daro evoked mixed response for its trailer. The major criticism has been distortion of history. Gowariker though stuck to his guns, defended himself by saying that since very little is known about the history of Indus Valley Civilization, they had to use a lot of imagination. 

“All along we reckoned that Mohenjo Daro was a 5000 year old civilization. However, after doing lot of research, meeting with historian, archaeologist, we have now learnt that the civilisation was perhaps 8000 years old.  Also, the name (Mohenjo) itself is pronounced and written in different ways. We had to use lot of imagination. It’s written that people in Mohenjo Daro didn’t wear clothes, but obviously we can’t be showing people naked,” said Gowariker.

Hrithik butted in with a cheeky reply of his own. “That’s true. One has to use imagination for such films. If we were to go by history, then I would have never played Akbar, who was 5 feet 5 inch tall.”

Roshan harped praised on his director, describing Gowariker as a true romantic, even though he doesn’t look one. “Ashutosh is the most romantic director at heart. He shoots the most intensely inspiring romance tales on celluloid,” said the Mohenjo Daro star.

A lukewarm response to the trailer. Add to it, competition from Akshay Kumar’s Rustom. Was there no thought of avoiding the clash?

Hrithik Roshan casually chucked the question reminding all that this was again to be debated between the two producers. Strangely, Disney India’s MD & CEO Siddharth Roy Kapoor wasn’t present during the press interaction. So, Gowariker took to history to dispel fears of competition.

“Sholay and Jai Santoshi Maa had released on the same day. The latter was big hit, while Sholay only became a hit later on. Similarly, in 2001, my film Lagaan and Gadar comedian against each other, Both turned out to be blockbusters. So, we’re hoping that both Mohenjo Daro and Rustom will be hits,” the director signed off.

Both Rustom and Mohenjo Daro will release on 12 August, 2016.