The team of Ashutosh Gowariker, A.R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar had created musical milestones in Lagaan, Swades and Jodhaa-Akbar. And they are now back together Gowariker’s period film Mohenjo-Daro, with Hrithik Roshan in the lead.
Interestingly, this will also be Akhtar’s return to lyrics-writing after nearly four years, during which time he did only songs for films directed by his children, Farhan and Zoya, besides Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroop.
In 2012-13, Akhtar was blacklisted by all major producers because of his long, legal and moral tussle over copyrights-royalty issues for writers. Even friends like Karan Johar had abandoned him.
Confirming this “historical” return to poetic form, Akhtar says, “It’s true, I was unemployed for nearly five years because of my fight with producers over writers’ royalties. During this time, I mainly wrote lyrics for my children Farhan and Zoya’s films.”
Now that he has won the royalty issue, the producers are back. “Coming together with Rahman is always a challenge. Ashutosh and I have worked on all his films after Lagaan. Interestingly, we’ve recreated different chapters of history in Lagaan, Jodhaa-Akbar and Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se. Mohenjo-Daro is a new challenge,” adds Akhtar,
The veteran has also been signed on to write the lyrics for Vipul Shah’s next directorial venture.
“Vipul’s film is a contemporary love story while Ashutosh’s film will take me back to the past. I am resuming my career as a lyricist with these two very different projects.”
