Ashutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker (born 15 February 1964) is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer who works in Indian Hindi cinema. He is best known for directing period sports drama Lagaan (2001), the social drama Swades (2004) and historical romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director for Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar. Lagaan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 74th Academy Awards, which makes him a voting member of the Academy Awards.
Ashutosh Gowariker

Bollywood Hungama · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Ashutosh Gowariker
- Born
- 15 February 1964
- Birthplace
- Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
- Occupation
- Director, producer, screenwriter, actor
- Nationality
- India
- Education
- Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics · Mithibai College
- Honours
- Filmfare Award for Best Director
- Languages
- Hindi
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Ashutosh Gowariker (born 15 February 1964) is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer who works in Indian Hindi cinema. He is best known for directing period sports drama Lagaan (2001), the social drama Swades (2004) and historical romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director for Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar. Lagaan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 74th Academy Awards, which makes him a voting member of the Academy Awards.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Ashutosh Gowariker. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q281249 · wikipedia · Ashutosh Gowariker
In this article
Biography
Biography
He returned to acting by playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed comedy drama Ventilator (2016).

During filming at Kennedy Space Center, writer-director Ashutosh Gowariker, his wife Sunita, and actor Shahrukh Khan pose for a photo with the Vehicle Assembly Building in the background.
Image KSC-04PD-1105 at the NASA Technical Reports Server

Talwalkars launched Zumba Fitness Programme in India
Bollywood Hungama
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ashutosh Gowariker • Born — 15 February 1964 • Birthplace — Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India • Years Active — 1984–present • Occupation — Director, producer, screenwriter, actor
Early life
Early life
Gowariker was born into a Marathi-speaking family to Ashok and Kishori Gowariker, in Kolhapur. He attended St. Theresa's High School in Bandra. Ashutosh is married to Sunita, Deb Mukherjee's daughter from his first marriage. They have two sons, Konark and Vishwang.
Actor
Actor
Gowariker started his career as an actor, making his debut in 1984 in director Ketan Mehta's picture Holi. On the Holi sets, Gowariker met Aamir Khan with whom he later went on to collaborate on different film projects. After that, he acted in several television serials, including Kacchi Dhoop (1987), Circus (1989), C.I.D. (1998) and several films, including Naam (1986), Goonj (1989), Chamatkar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993). He returned to acting by playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed Marathi comedy drama Ventilator (2016), which was produced by Priyanka Chopra. Allegedly, he took about 6 months to agree to do the film.
Debut
Debut
Gowariker made his directorial debut with the thriller Pehla Nasha (1993), followed by another thriller Baazi (1995), both of which received negative reviews upon release and emerged as commercial disasters at the box-office.
Widespread success
Widespread success
His first film of the new millennium was the epic musical sports drama Lagaan, produced by and starring Aamir Khan alongside debutante Gracy Singh. The film revolved around the people of a small village in Victorian India who stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers. It received positive reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its direction, soundtrack, performances of the cast, and its anti-imperialist stance. The film emerged as a commercial success, grossing worldwide, ranking as the third highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. Lagaan earned Gowariker his first Filmfare Award for Best Director and the Filmfare Award for Best Story, in addition to the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and the Filmfare Award for Best Film. Lagaan was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, being the third, and as of 2023 the last, Indian film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1988) to be nominated for the award. • Illustration — Ashutosh Gowariker, his wife Sunita and actor Shahrukh Khan pose for a photo with the Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center in the background during filming for the movie Swades He next screenwrote and directed the social drama Swades (2004) starring Shahrukh Khan and debutante Gayatri Joshi in lead roles. The story of the film revolves around an NRI project manager at NASA, who returns to India to discover the challenges faced by a rural village, and dedicates himself to their development, addressing issues of education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The film received rave reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its direction, story, screenplay, soundtrack and performances of the cast. However, despite pre-release hype and good critical reception, it emerged as a commercial failure at the box office. Swades earned Gowariker his second nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director. However, over the years, the film has achieved cult status. Gowariker's next screenwriting and directorial venture was the epic historical romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008) starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in lead roles. Set in the 16th century, the film depicted the life and romance between the Muslim Emperor Akbar of Mughal Empire and the Hindu Princess Jodhaa Bai of Amber, who married him on a political marriage. It opened to widespread critical acclaim upon release, with high praise for its direction, soundtrack, cinematography, costume design, choreography and performances of the cast. The film emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, grossing worldwide, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. Jodhaa Akbar earned Gowariker his second Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director. The film was cited as "10 Great Bollywood Films of the 21st Century" by British Film Institute. Gowariker's next venture was the romantic comedy What's Your Raashee? (2009) starring Priyanka Chopra (in 12 roles) alongside Harman Baweja. Based on the Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood by the playwright and novelist Madhu Rye, the film told the story of a Gujarati NRI who meets twelve potential brides, one from each zodiac sign, one of whom he must marry in ten days to save his brother from harm. It had its world premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its soundtrack and Chopra's performance, but criticism for its screenplay, runtime and pacing. It emerged as a below-average grosser at the box-office. His next venture was the historical action-adventure Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010) starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. The film was based on Manini Chatterjee's Do And Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34, an account of the 1930 Chittagong armoury raid. It opened to mixed-to-negative reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office. After a 6-year hiatus, Gowariker made his comeback with the period action-adventure Mohenjo Daro (2016) starring Roshan (in their second collaboration) alongside debutante Pooja Hegde in lead roles. Set in 2016 BC at the height of Indus Valley Civilisation, the film follows the story of a farmer who travels to the city of Mohenjo Daro, challenges the city's elite and fights against overwhelming odds to save the civilization. It received negative reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as Gowariker's second consecutive commercial disaster at the box-office. His next venture was the epic war drama Panipat (2019) starring Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. The film depicts the events that took place during the Third Battle of Panipat. It received negative reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as Gowariker's third consecutive commercial disaster at the box-office. In 2024 Gowariker served as chairperson of the international jury at the 55th International Film Festival of India held from 20 November to 28 November. His next directorial venture, starring Aamir Khan, is a Biographical Sports drama about cricketer Lala Amarnath, focusing on the 1952 India-Pakistan Test series.
Director
Director
• Year — Film — Director — Writer — Producer — Notes • 1993 — Pehla Nasha • 1995 — Baazi • 2001 — Lagaan — Nominated – Academy Award for Best International Feature Film Filmfare Award for Best Film Filmfare Award for Best Director Filmfare Award for Best Story • 2004 — Swades — Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Film Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director • 2008 — Jodhaa Akbar — Filmfare Award for Best Film Filmfare Award for Best Director • 2009 — What's Your Raashee? • 2010 — Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey — Nominated – Zee Cine Award for Best Story • 2014 — Everest — TV series • 2016 — Mohenjo Daro • 2019 — Panipat • 2022 — Toolsidas Junior — National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
Actor
Actor
• Year — Films and television series — Language — Role • 2026 — System — Hindi — Ravi Rajvansh • 2025 — April May 99 — Marathi — Jaie's father • Ata Thambaycha Naay! — Marathi — Udaykumar Shirurkar • 2024 — Manvat Murders — Marathi — Ramakant Kulkarni • 2023 — Kaala Paani — Hindi — Lt. Governor Zibran Qadri • 2016 — Ventilator — Marathi — Raja Kamerkar • 1998–1999 — C.I.D. — Hindi — Inspector Virendra • 1998 — Woh — Hindi — Ashutosh Dhar • 1998 — Sarkarnama — Marathi • 1995–2015 — Aahat — Hindi • 1994 — Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa — Hindi — Imran Bilal • 1994 — Vazir — Marathi • 1992 — Jaanam — Hindi — Arun S. Rao • 1992 — Chamatkar — Hindi — Monty • 1991 — Indrajeet — Hindi • Jeeva Sakha — Marathi — Nagojirao "Nagya" Patil • 1989 — Circus — Hindi — Vicky • Gawaahi — Hindi — Sayed Akhtar Rampuri • Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro — Hindi — Abdul • Kamla Ki Maut — Hindi — Deepak • Indradhanush — Hindi — Mr. Appuswamy • Ek Ratra Mantarleli — Marathi — Shekhar • Goonj — Hindi — Sammy • 1988 — Bharat Ek Khoj — Hindi — Prince Siddhartha / Buddha • 1987 — Kachchi Dhoop — Hindi • West Is West — English • 1986 — Naam — Hindi — Jai Singh Kalewar • 1984 — Holi — Hindi — Ranjeet Prakash
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1964
Ashutosh Gowariker born at Mumbai.
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Ashutosh Gowariker: Narrativizing the ‘Nation’, Behind the Scenes: Contemporary Bollywood Directors and Their Cinema, 2017
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2017
- Myth in constructing contemporary Indian identity in popular Hindi film: The case of Ashutosh Gowariker, Acta Orientalia Vilnensia, 2008
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2008
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q281249: Ashutosh Gowariker
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Ashutosh Gowariker”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Awards
• Film — Award — Category — Result — Ref. References • Lagaan — Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards — Best Director (Hindi) • Bergen International Film Festival — The Jury's Award • European Film Academy — Best Non-European Film • 47th Filmfare Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Best Story • 3rd IIFA Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Best Story • Leeds International Film Festival — Audience Award • Locarno International Film Festival • 49th National Film Awards — Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment • NatFilm Festival — Audience Award • Portland International Film Festival • Screen Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Best Story • Best Screenplay • Best Dialogue • Zee Cine Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Best Story • Swades — 50th Filmfare Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Zee Cine Awards — Best Director (Critics) • Best Story • Stardust Awards — Dream Director • Jodhaa Akbar — 54th Filmfare Awards — Best Film • Best Director • 10th IIFA Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Producers Guild Film Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Golden Minbar International Film Festival — Best Film – Grand Pix • São Paulo International Film Festival — Audience Award for Best Foreign Feature Film • Screen Awards — Best Film • Best Director • Stardust Awards — Best Film of the Year • Best Director • Dream Director • V. Shantaram Awards — Best Director Bronze Award • Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey — Zee Cine Awards — Best Story • Ventilator — Filmfare Marathi Awards — Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Marathi
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Thomas, Rebecca. Picking Oscar winners - a juror's tale. BBC News. 22 February 2005.
- 2.Popular Prakashan. The Spirit of Lagaan. 18. 2002. 81-7991-003-2.
- 3.Om Books International. Ashutosh Gowariker.
- 4.Dixit, Kanak Mani. The Southasian Sensibility: A Himal Reader. SAGE Publications India. 165. 2012. 9788132116974.
- 5.Singh, Suhani. The Pulp Prodigy: Ayan Mukerji ready to enter the big league of Bollywood. India Today. November 30, 1999.
- 6.Once again, love in Bombay
- 7.Popular Prakashan. The Spirit of Lagaan. 14.
- 8.Pehla Nasha - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 9.Baazi - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 10.Box Office 2001.
- 11.Lagaan - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 12.Swades - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 13.It's 2020 And Swades Still Remains The Most Realistic Indian Film Made About India!. IndiaTimes. 2020-05-06.
- 14.Jodhaa Akbar - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 15.10 great Bollywood films of the 21st century. BFI.
- 16.What's Your Raashee? Cast & Crew. Bollywood Hungama.
- 17.What's Your Raashee - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 18.Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 19.Ashutosh Gowariker: The tallest structure in Mohenjo Daro was two-storey high - Times of India. The Times of India.
- 20.Ashutosh Gowariker: 'Mohenjo Daro' set in womb of time - Times of India. The Times of India.
- 21.Mohenjo Daro - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 22.Panipat - Movie - Box Office India. www.boxofficeindia.com.
- 23.IFFI 2024: 'Better Man' to open gala, Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award to filmmaker Phillip Noyce. Hindustan Times. 11 November 2024.
- 24.‘3 Idiots’ sequel faces delay as Aamir Khan focuses on Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lala Amarnath biographical drama. The Times of India. 2026-05-28. 0971-8257.
- 25.jha, subhash k. Aamir To Play Cricket Legend Lala Amarnath. www.deccanchronicle.com. 2026-05-26.
- 26.The Quint. 'Lagaan' Completes 21 Years, Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker & More Celebrate. 17 June 2022.
- 27.शिकलगार, स्वालिया न. Movie April May 99 वडील मुलीच्या नात्यातील जिव्हाळा घेऊन येताहेत आशुतोष गोवारीकर. Pudhari News. 2025-05-19.
- 28.Ashutosh Gowariker to play real-life cop Ramakant Kulkarni in Manvat Murders. Bollywood Hungama. 2024-09-05.
- 29.69th & 70th Annual Hero Honda BFJA Awards 2007. 1 March 2008.
- 30.Bergen International Film Festival. Bergen International Film Festival: The Norwegian Film Institute's award for Import.
- 31.Lagaan: Once Upon a Time In India (2001). The New York Times. 2016.
- 32.Dixit, Rekha. Filmfare gives Lagaan a 7-star salute. The Times of India. 16 February 2002.
- 33.Kumar, S. R Ashok. It was 'Lagaan' all the way at the IIFA awards nite. The Hindu. April 2021.
- 34.Talwaar, Pooja. IIFA Rewind: 13 Years Ago in Malaysia, There Was Aamir's Lagaan. NDTV. 5 June 2015.
- 35.BBC. Indian film scoops top Leeds award. 16 October 2001.
- 36.Cunha, Uma Da. Lagaan wins Audience Award at Locarno. The Times of India. 13 August 2001.
- 37.Directorate of Film Festivals. 49th National Film Awards.
- 38.Lagaan sweeps national film awards. The Times of India. 27 July 2002.
- 39.Neiiendam, Jacob. Danish fest audience awards Lagaan distribution cash. Screen International. 17 April 2002.
- 40.Northwest Film Center. Portland International Film Festival 2002.
- 41.'Lagaan', 'DCH' sweep Screen awards. The Tribune. 19 January 2002.
- 42.Screen Awards 2001. 18 January 2002.
- 43.Dubey, Bharati. Lagaan sweeps the FairGlow Zee awards. Rediff.com. 11 January 2002.
- 44.Zee Cine Awards. Zee Cine Awards Video Gallery.
- 45.Filmfare Awards Winners From 1953 to 2019. filmfare.com.
- 46.Pratiyogita Darpan. Competition Science Vision. 289–. May 2005.
- 47.IMDb event 0000415/2005 Zee Cine Awards (2005)
- 48.Nominations for 54th Filmfare Awards 2009. Sify. 16 February 2009.
- 49.54th Idea Filmfare Awards. 8 March 2009.
- 50.Nominations for the IIFA Awards 2009. Bollywood Hungama. 29 April 2009.
- 51.Winners of the IIFA Awards 2009. Bollywood Hungama. 13 June 2009.
- 52.4TH APSARA PRODUCERS GUILD AWARDS NOMINEES. Apsara Awards.
- 53.4TH APSARA PRODUCERS GUILD AWARDS WINNERS. Apsara Awards.
- 54.Jodhaa Akbar, Hrithik win awards at Golden Minbar Film Festival in Russia. Bollywood Hungama. 23 October 2008.
- 55.Jodhaa Akbar wins 'Audience Award' at Sao Paulo International Film Festival. Bollywood Hungama. 3 November 2008.
- 56.15th Star Screen Awards Nominations. Screen.
- 57.Jodhaa, A Wednesday sweep 'Star Screen awards'. The Indian Express. 15 January 2009.
- 58.Winners of Max Stardust Awards 2009. Bollywood Hungama. 16 February 2009.
- 59.'Taare Zameen Par' wins V Shantaram award for Best Film. Outlook. August 2026.
- 60.Nominations for Zee Cine Awards 2011. Bollywood Hungama.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Ashutosh Gowariker: Narrativizing the ‘Nation’, Behind the Scenes: Contemporary Bollywood Directors and Their Cinema, 2017Crossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
Myth in constructing contemporary Indian identity in popular Hindi film: The case of Ashutosh Gowariker, Acta Orientalia Vilnensia, 2008Crossref registry
Verifiedreference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Ashutosh Gowariker is recorded as having received Filmfare Award for Best Director.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- AshokanPerson
- Ashraf SsemwogererePerson
- Ashton DearholtPerson
- Ashton KutcherPerson
- Ashvin KumarPerson
- Ashwath MarimuthuPerson
- Ashwini NachappaPerson
- Ashwiny Iyer TiwariPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Ashutosh Gowariker?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.