I should make a short, racy thriller: Ashutosh Gowariker

Mumbai, March 13 (IANS) After making lengthy films like "Lagaan" and "Jodhaa Akbar", Ashutosh Gowariker says it's time to make a short length film.

"Maybe, I should make a short and racy thriller next just to prove I can make shorter films," Gowariker told IANS.

After having pulled itself out of the clutches of protestors, "Jodhaa Akbar" seems to be on the way to becoming a success, but the director says he is not experiencing the thrill of making a hit.

"Frankly, it's a relief. I first had to deal with the film's uncontrollable length. It isn't as if I had set out to make long films, but 'Lagaan' turned out to be three hours 42 minutes long. 'Jodhaa Akbar' was comparatively shorter. But still not short enough. Anyway the issue of length has been resolved in the audiences' mind. No one is complaining about it.

"I'm yet to feel the sense of triumph that I should be feeling, but it's been a long battle. And we've managed to get the film released in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. But Rajasthan, where the film belongs, remains a sore point. I feel 'Jodhaa Akbar' belongs to Rajasthan. How can it not be released there?"

The Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai-starring epic romance has had a triumphant release in Telugu.

"The film is doing really well in its Telugu-dubbed version, but not that well in Tamil. How do we explain that since the Hindi version was released in both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu before the regional versions? Distributors tell me the Hollywood period film '10000 BC' was released in Tamil Nadu alongside 'Jodhaa Akbar'. So...."

Gowariker seems unconvinced by the logic.

"I don't know the facts and figures," he shrugged. "But the fact is that it has been seen as a good story and an engaging film and that's enough for me. The success of 'Jodhaa Akbar' has given me the freedom to make my next film. That's what matters."

Currently, the director is trying to recuperate from a back problem. He's also trying to catch as much of the plays and books out there as possible.

"For two years I've only been living in the world of 'Jodhaa Akbar', totally insulated from all other influences. Now I'm absorbing everything, from Mohan Rakesh's Hindi novels to Marathi plays. You could say I'm grazing, hoping that my next film would emerge from my creative curiosity."

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