Have temptation to act, but I keep it down: Ashutosh Gowariker

Mumbai: Director Ashutosh Gowariker, who had started his journey in the film industry as an actor, said on Friday that he gets the temptation to act, but keeps it down as it is too much of a multitask along with direction.

In an interview, Gowariker said, "I get scared sometimes, because direction is a very difficult task. And I feel that, as a director, if I also act, it may perhaps become a distraction, my mind will get diverted, because it is too big a multitask for me."

"As a director, you are already thinking so much, you're thinking about foreground, you're thinking about background, about so many elements, that as an actor I'll get distracted. So I have the temptation, but I keep it down."

Gowariker had acted in Aamir Khan's debut "Holi", as well with Shah Rukh Khan in "Chamatkar", "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa" and the TV series "Circus", before venturing into direction.

After making films like "Pehla Nashaa" and "Baazi", he shot to fame with "Lagaan". Did he think about acting in the film? "The role that was in my mind for 'Lagaan' was Arjan, the blacksmith but he had too many scenes; I thought I won't be able to do it. Then I thought of the one who announces Lagaan on a horse, the king's man, there were only two lines, so I thought I'll be able to do it well."

"Then I saw that his intensity was something different and the scene was so important that if I come in, it might become a distraction; people will think that he is the film's director. So I dropped that as well. So there are such constant attractions to do roles, but till now I haven't, I don't know, may be in the future I will."

Gowariker's "Mohenjo Daro" starring Hrithik Roshan released on Friday.

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