Director Ashutosh Gowariker says he doesn’t let controversies affect him. His only thought is, “Why are people not patient?” He shares that he embraces the questions as people ask it out of concern. The Jodha Akbar director, says, “It is a given that there will be questions when you make a historical film. If I was a descendant of a great warrior, I would want to know what is being written about or presented about my family member. However, at the same time, people should wait and be patient.

Gowariker’s films have always had music as an integral and interactive part of the narration and the director admits to be involved in it. “It is important for a composer to know the story. I don’t want a song to just stand out on its own,” he says.

On choosing the subject of Panipat, Ashutosh shares, “Pune and Kolhapur have been important associations, the latter being my home town. One has been a part of the Chhatratpati and the Peshwas rule. But never did I think of making a film on that. Yes, I may meet somebody who will say, ‘why don’t you make a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’.

And I will do it. But no one told me to make a film on Sadashiv Rao Bhau. Somewhere I like to tell untold stories, to see if there is a learning curve or knowledge to impart from it. In this story, what happens is inevitable, and that astonishes me. I thought, if I am so intrigued by it, then I should tell the story.”

From Jodha and Chaani to Parvatibai the women characters have always been strong, independent and fearless. And, he believes it has been a part of his films by default. “It could be because of the influences of my mom (Kishori), sister Ashlesha who is a lawyer and my wife, Sunita.