Ashutosh takes a short thrill pill

His next, a period flick will be two hours long
PS: He also cut three songs (11 minutes) from Raashee

After What's Your Raashee?, Ashutosh Gowariker is making a thriller! Actually, it is a period film, based on the Chittagong Uprising, which the director promises will be treated like a thriller. Abhishek Bachchan plays the character of Surjya Singh.

Not afraid
He is not afraid of making period films, even though they are not known for spinning gold at the BO, "I make films that I feel have relevance in our time. And Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey does. I decide on the subject when I find a story that has to be told, to be captured on celluloid."

After Lagaan, Swades and Jodhaa Akbar, when he announced that he was making a romantic-comedyu00a0-- What's Your Raashee?, the news was greeted with scepticism but that didn't stop him for pursuing a subject he felt passionate about.

Unexpected
Now, one week after the release of the film he says, "There are two kinds of people who stray into theatres to see WYR?. "The first lot has made up their mind that I am a serious filmmaker and they will not like this film.

The second type are curious to see what I have made and are going in with an open mind." He realises that no one expected him to make a romantic comedy, but he cannot allow perceptions to hinder the different genres that he wants to attempt.

It is being said that it was pressure from his co-producers to cut the length of the film, the director brushes the rumour off with a casual, "I felt it was for the betterment of the film. I saw the film across the city in many theatres, and after seeing the reaction of the audiences, I chopped off the songs that I could do away with."

Hope it helps
The film is now shorter by 11 minutes. Gowariker stresses that no scenes have been cut, "I really thought that every horoscope should have a song that defines the characteristics of that sun sign, which is why I had planned 12 songs." He hopes that trimming the film helps the film's chances at the box office.

Ask him if he is capable of making a short film and he laughs, "Yes, the next one will be two hours long. My previous films have been long because of the subjects I have chosen. But this time I am going in knowing I will make a two-hour long film." Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is based on Manini Chatterjee's book, Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising: 1930-34.

Ashutosh's all-time fav funny films
Bombay To Goa
Do Phool
Chupke Chupke