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Ashutosh Gowariker (Marathi: आशुतोष गोवारिकर) (born 15 February 1964) is an Indian film director, actor, writer and producer. He is known for directing the films Lagaan (2001), Swades (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), What’s Your Raashee (2009) and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010). He was nominated for an Academy Award and European Film Award, and has won a number of other awards, including a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards, and seven international film festival awards. He also became a voting member for the Academy Awards in 2005

Ashutosh Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director Ketan Mehta’s movie, Holi. On the Holi sets, Ashutosh met Aamir Khan. After that, he acted in several television serials, including Kachchi Dhoop (1987), Circus (1989), C.I.D. (1998) and several films, including Naam (1986), Chamatkar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993).

The 1993 movie, Pehla Nasha marked Gowariker’s directorial debut. It was a failure at the box office. His second movie, Baazi (1995), starring Aamir Khan, was again a faliure at the box office.

In 2001, Gowariker wrote and directed the period epic movie, Lagaan, produced by and starring Aamir Khan. Lagaan, the story of a cricket match between British officers and Indian villagers in the late 19th century, was released to great critical acclaim at home and abroad. In India, it won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Abroad, the film won a number of awards at international film festivals and was nominated an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (see Awards and nominations for Lagaan). It ranked third among 2001’s Indian movies in terms of gross revenue. In 2001 Lagaan was the biggest hit in Bollywood. Its DVD sale was at peak until 2007.

In 2004, Gowariker directed Swades, starring Shahrukh Khan. Swades also received high critical acclaim. It was popular in India as well as overseas, as Khan is the most popular Indian star overseas.

Gowariker is known as an “actor’s director”. At the time of writing (2008), all of his male stars have won either the Filmfare Best Actor Award or the Critics’ Best Actor Award.

Jodhaa Akbar, another historical epic romance set in the 16th century, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, was released on 15 February 2008. It received widespread acclaim in India and overseas.As a filmmaker he shows his own civility through his films.

Jodhaa Akbar swept awards at all the major awards, including the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Macau, China, on 15 June 2009, taking home trophies for best picture, best director and best actor.

Then came Gowariker’s first romantic comedy What’s Your Raashee?, starring Priyanka Chopra in 12 roles and Harman Baweja. The film released on 25 September 2009.

His latest release has been Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, about the Chittagong Uprising set in undivided Bengal of 1930, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone. This was released on 3 December 2010. —Wikipedia