Ashutosh Gowariker stole my script, alleges Akashaditya Lama.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
Hrithik Roshan’s much-awaited film ‘Mohenjo Daro’ has landed in legal trouble ahead of the release of the film.
According to a report in India Times, writer-director Akashaditya Lama has dragged the makers of the film to court saying that Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of ‘Mohenjo Daro’ stole the script of the film from him.
Lama alleged that he wrote the script in 1995 when he was a student in Gwalior. He was doing theater workshops with National School of Drama during the time.
Lama conceived the idea of the fiction from his own life experiences, especially the conflict between his parents who were from different sub-castes. In 1997, he moved to Mumbai in expectation of finding a career in film industry.
While searching for a career, Lama narrated many stories including ‘Mohenjo Daro’ to many filmmakers. One of them had worked with Ashutosh Gowariker in many films, including Lagaan, Swades, and Jodhaa Akbar.
Though Lama approached Gowariker in 2002 with the script of ‘Mohenjo Daro,’ the director rejected it saying that he was not interested in a period film right after ‘Lagaan.’
Later in 2010, Lama sent an email to Gowariker seeking explanation when reports came up saying the director was working on a movie based on Indus Valley civilization. But didn’t get any reply.
Finally, Lama filed a suit in the Bombay High Court after one more failed attempt to contact Gowariker through email in 2014. The hearing of the case started on July 12 and the second one is on July 26.
“Their lawyers pleaded to dismiss the case but the honorable Judge (GS Patel) has told them to reply to our allegations till July 20,” Lama told India Times. “We’re supposed to respond to their explanation by July 23. I am hopeful that a decision will be reached during the second hearing, which is on July 26,” he added.
The director of 2012’s ‘Cigarette Ki Tarah,’ also alleged that Gowariker copied a part of ‘Mohenjo Daro’ script and used it in the climax of 2008 movie ‘Jodhaa Akbar.’