Was it always going to be Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai for the roles of Akbar and Jodhaa?
Yeah, from day one. When I heard the story for the first time, the images that came to my mind was what Akbar would look like, a warrior-like figure of Turkish background. You know, sharp nose, sharp features. For Jodhaa I wanted someone who was very beautiful in a very simple way. Both Hrithik and Aishwarya, I've been an admirer of theirs from their first films.
I feel in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Hrithik was phenomenal. In his very first film he did a double role, which is unheard of. Even later when he did Koi... Mil Gaya, he played the character of Rohit which he did brilliantly. In Krrish also he played three different kinds of roles. I knew he is an actor who is desirous of taking up challenges.
Aishwarya, while doing mainstream films, has been attempting really different kind of stuff -- Choker Bali or Shabd. So this film needed actors who could lend and bring their talent and their personas. Hrithik and Aishwarya were my immediate first choices.
Would you say personality above everything else contributed to the casting of these two actors?
No, it can't be only personality. It is a combination of personality and acting capability. Also, the capacity to portray a character. Because, after all, this is not Bhuvan (Aamir Khan's role in Lagaan), this is not Mohan Bhargav (Shah Rukh Khan's role in Swades). These are two characters whom everyone knows about and has heard about. So the depiction had to be very correct. I think both of them had to have the correct balance of talent and persona that was necessary.
What was it like working with them?
Superb. It was terrific. Right from the script reading sessions, their inputs of time by way of you know learning the language -- the Urdu diction, especially for Hrithik -- or the horse riding and sword fighting. There's a lot of preparation that went into, especially for Hrithik.
How much time would you say they spent on preparing for their roles as Jodhaa and Akbar?
About three months before we could start.
Every day?
Yeah, yeah.
Also read: 'Jodhaa Akbar is the story of married love'
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