Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Mohenjo Daro’ with Hrithik Roshan faces Legal problems

Ashutosh Gowariker is known for his period drama films in Bollywood. Currently he is shooting for his next ‘Mohenjo Daro‘ with Hrithik Roshan playing the lead. But the filmmaker who is filming his last schedule of the film is facing some troubles. Let’s get to know what problem is.

Akashaditya Lama, a popular writer of TV series like Kumkum, Kkusum and Hamari Betiyoon Ka Vivah, has moved to court for seeking a stay on the film’s production and it’s release, claiming that the original story of this period drama has been written by him and Gowariker has stolen it.

Akashaditya Lama said, “There was hardly any fiction available on Mohenjodaro then and little information about the ancient city apart from a few artifacts found during excavations, including figurines of a dancing girl and a priest king.”

Further the writer added that he has been working on this idea since 1995. He had sent his script to Ashutosh through his friend Ballu Saluja, who was editing his film ‘Lagaan’ at that time. But the filmmaker had returned it after four days saying he is not interested in making a period film immediately after finishing work on a same genre like ‘Lagaan.’

Further the writer added that he had registered his script not once but twice in 2007 and 2010 with different Associations. “The original copy of the script is still with me.” Getting to know from a friend that filmmaker Gowariker has lifted his original script, he mailed him on his personal email id but he didn’t respond.

He performed this script with a play titled ‘Mohenjo daro,’ which staged across the country becoming a huge success, following he decided to make it in a feature film. “I was surprised to learn that Gowariker had already commenced his film’s pre-production. After re-confirming from several sources that his Mohenjo Daro is very similar to my script, I sent him another mail on July 18, 2014, reminding him about the script I had sent to him in 2002-2003,” added Lama.

Lama said, “After Ashutosh Gowariker announced his film, our financier backed out. It is causing us tremendous financial loss as well as hampering our credibility in the trade.”

With this Legal problem coming in, it is the second film of Hrithik Roshan this year with a situation like this. Earlier his film with his father Rakesh Roshan directed by Sanjay Gupta is facing a similar situation.

Ashutosh Gowariker’s lawyer has stated, “Our client states that they had received a script from Mr Ballu Saluja in 2003. However, out client returned the script to Mr Ballu Saluja immediately without reading the same. Our client denies that your client’s script was returned by our client to Mr Ballu Saluja because they were not intending to make a historical film.”

Let’s see how the filmmaker clears this confusion. Pooja Hegde is making her debut as the lead actress in this film. ‘Mohenjo Daro’ is slated to release on August 12, 2016.

Also Read: CHECK OUT : HRITHIK ROSHAN’S RUSTIC LOOK IN ‘MOHENJO DARO’

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.