Hrithik speaks about JA
How was working with Ashutosh Gowarikar?
He’s one of the most evolved directors I’ve worked with. My primary reason for doing Jodhaa Akbar was that I wanted to work with him.
Your personal inputs to the role of Akbar?
I wanted Akbar to be my interpretation within the realm of the screenplay. I didn’t want to imitate or mimic what I might have seen.
Any difficulties you faced while shooting?
Hmm. There weren’t any particular difficulties that demarcated this one as more difficult than the other films I have done.
Is Akbar a complex character?
Very much so. In fact, that is what intrigued me and propelled me towards him.
Does a costume drama limit you?
On the contrary, it adds to the character. Costumes, jewellery…anything that makes the character more convincing is welcome.
Your first reaction to playing the role…
I did not look at Akbar from a historical viewpoint. I’m a believer in films and films are meant to entertain. I reacted purely to the drama and the emotions of the story. It could’ve been anyone’s story.
Have you succeeded in doing that?
You’ll find out once the audience sees it.
Does it hold promise, will it become a classic like Mughal-e-Azam?
We can only work within the boundaries, make sure it’s good, honest work. The rest is a consequence of that. It could become a classic, it could win the Oscars—you never know.
What is your take on the music?
When it’s A.R. Rahman, you don’t need to say much. It’s fantastic, magical, ethereal.
Your chemistry with Ash in Dhoom 2 has raised expectations….
We were coming from Dhoom and immediately got into Jodhaa Akbar—it was something we found very comfortable to do.
Republic Day Special
This Republic Day Bollywood chooses favourite patriotic song, film & national figure.
Malaika Arora: “Sare jahan se achcha….I don’t know what happens to me when I hear that song. It fills with pride for being Indian. My favourite national figure: all the freedom fighters who brought us where we are today. No doubt they’re the true heroes.
J.P Dutta: “My favourite patriotic song is Hum laayen hain toofan se kashti nikalke iss desh ko rakhna mere bachcho sambhal ke from the film Jagriti. My favourite patriotic film will have to be my own Border. And I’d say the true national figure is the The Soldier of the armed forces. He represents the true spirit of India.
Shabana Azmi: “Favourite song has to be Kar chale hum fida from Haqeeqat…Jiyo Kaifi Azmi. Jiyo Madan Mohan. Jiyo Mohd Rafi! Favourite national figure? Undoubtedly Mahatma Gandhi, though Nehruji was also a remarkable visionary.
Hema Malini: “My favourite patriotic songs are the antional anthem and Lataji’s Ae mere watan ke logon. And Bapuji is my favourite national figure.”
Himesh Reshammiya: “Favourite patriotic film Upkar and song Ae mere wanr ke logon. National figure? Gandhiji of course
Manoj Bajpai: “Song is Kar chale hum fida jaan-o-tan saathiyon from Haqeeqat and my favourite patriotic film is my own 1971 directed by Amrit Sagar. National figure? Bhagat Singh!
Rahul Khanna: “I thought Chak De India was incredibly patriotic. My favourite song is predictably our national anthem. It’s a truly beautiful piece of music and verse. My favourite national figure is the Indian soldier who toils selflessly at the border to protect our country.
Amrita Arora: “Favourite patriotic film Mother India, favourite patriotic song Mere desh ki dharti from Upkar. And favourite national figure? That’s easy. Mahatma Gandhi.
Diya Mirza: “My favourite song is Hemant Kumar’s Insaaf ki dagar pe from Ganga Jumna because it addresses itself to children and tells them their responsibility as Indian citizens.
I also love Vande mataram. Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi is my favourite patriotic film. I watched it when I was very young.
I realized for the first time what love for the country Bhavna Talwar: My favourite song is Ae mere pyare watan from Kabuliwala. Though many great patriotic films have been made I’d choose my own Dharm for its message of national integration at a time when rappers are singing about hatred. My favourite national figure is APJ Abdul Kalam.
Dino Morea: “Favourite patriotic film and song is Border and A R Rahman’s Ma tujhe salaam. Favourite national figure? Ummmm. Subhas Chandra Bose.Don’t ask me why.The national figure who evokes a deep sense of patriotism in me is Mahatma Gandhi.
Ravi Kissan: “My favourite song is Mera rang de basanti chola from Shaheed. And my favourite national personalities are Anna Hazare and Sunil Dutt.
Suneel Darshan: “I’m a big Manoj Kumar fan and my favourite film is Upkar, favourite song is Hai preet jahan ki reet sadaa main geet wahan ke gata hoon from Purab Aur Pachchim.
Mahesh Bhatt: “Favourite patriotic song would have to be Kar chalehum fida by Kaifi Azmi. And favourite film is Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat. My favourite national figure? Rabindranath Tagore
Satish Kaushik: “Manoj Kumar’s Upkar….and favourite patriotic song is Kar chale hum fida. National figure is Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De India.
Anant Mahadevan: “Kar chale hum fida from the film Haqeeqat which is also my favourite patriotic film on the Indo-China war. Very relevant to today’s politics.Will China pull the rug on us again?
Favourite national figures are Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, our first president who was a true statesman and understood the spirit of India,And C V Raman whose Raman Effect was a pathbreaking find.
Aftab Shivdasani; “My favourite patriotic song is Ae mere pyare watan. Film is Chak De India. And Shah Rukh Khan is my choice for the national figure.”
Anubhav Sinha: “Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat. And the personality would have to be Mahatma Gandhi
Apoorva Lakhia: “Favourite patriotic film is Border and song Mera rang de basanti chola. My favourite patriotic character is Ben Kingsley as Gandhi fighting against all odds and sacrificing himself for the greater cause that is the country.”
Priyanka Chopra: “My favourite patriotic song will have to be Mile sur ter
a hamara.Ever time I’d see all the stalwarts of the country from Lataji to Pandit Ravi Shankar to Shabana Azmi come together on television to sing that song, I’d get goose bumps.
In fact I get that goosebumpy feeling even now I speak to you about that song. My favourite national figure is Rajiv Gandhi. He was a lovely man and a truly remarkable visionary. He dreamt of taking India into the new millennium but couldn’t live to see that dream come true.
Believe me, we haven’t even realized ten percent of our full potential as yet.”
Raveena Tandon: “I love Bharat (Manoj Kumar) in Purab Aur Pachchim and that song in the film Hai pree jahan ki reet, specially the line Jab zero diya mere bharat ne.
Imtiaz Ali: “Favourite patriotic film Rang De Basanti, favourite song Rahman’s Vande mataram. And national figure? Dhoni.
Boman Irani: “Without doubt my favourite patriotic song is Ae mere pyare watan by Manna Dey. I sing it all the time. It just makes me cry.It’s a song dedicated to the country. To HOME.”
Divya Dutta: “Favourite song Kar chale hum fida. Favourite film is Haqeeqat. My national hero would be Manoj Kumar for acting in and making films that represent the true spirit of India.
Alka Yagnik: Lataji’s Ae mere watan ke logon is my all-time favourite song.
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