** I hope ARR is doing this ??Also RKS talks about Ramyan! http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/04raj.htm ** *You love working with him, don't you?*
He is a trusted friend. And I feel that I will continue working with him for many years. I never get tired of working with Ajay. He will be playing the lead in *Ashoka* and then in the *Ramayan. *Both will be made within two years. I am sure people will be astounded how he will interpret the two compellingly fascinating characters. Ajay is one of the few leading men in the industry today who will some day become a very valued character actor. ** *What do you feel most appealing in him?* He has never been a chocolate face actor. Though he has received a lot of praise for his performances and awards, I feel every time I work with him, there is so much more talent in him that is waiting to be exploited. Ajay surprises me every time we are doing a new film. ** *What kind of Ashoka would he make?* I am sure he will bring out well all the contradictions, weaknesses and strengths in *Ashoka*. I love history and I read extensively about historical people. I have been thinking of this film for many years, and Ajay was always there in my mind as Ashoka. *[image: Vidya Balan]Some filmmakers would have been tempted to cast 'handsome' actor as Ashoka.* (*Chuckles*) That is the point. From my reading, I know that Ashoka was not a handsome person in the traditional sense. He was also a dark skinned person. One of Ajay's strengths is that he can get under the skin of any well-written role and make it his own. He has sharp, expressive eyes. And he appears to be very natural in all the challenging characters he has played so far. *People surely have asked this question before. There is already a film on Ashoka, starring Shah Rukh Khan [Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=shah rukh khan> ] and directed by Santosh Sivan. The film got mixed reviews and did not perform well. What made you decide on another film on the emperor?* The answer lies in your question. It is not that I did not like the previous film. But I found it ended at a very important juncture, the Battle of Kalinga, that led to Ashoka getting horrified with the carnage on the battlefield and renouncing warfare. My film starts where Santosh Sivan's film ended. I am fascinated by the life and times of Ashoka. I remember reading H G Wells, who considered Ashoka to be the most powerful emperor because of the moral strength he had in renouncing violence and seeking an ethical life for himself and his people. Wells considered Ashoka to be even greater than Alexander and Julius Caesar. It would not have surprised me to read an Indian historian calling Ashoka great. But a British historian recognising Ashoka's greatness? How can I resist the idea of making a film on Ashoka? ** *There surely some people in the film business who think it is a risky subject?* I am sure. But the fact that I am all ready to make the film --- we plan to start shooting it in February --- shows my confidence in the subject. *[image: A still from Halla Bol]What did you find most interesting about Ashoka's life?* I am tempted to look at what might have happened after he renounced war and he actually begin to believe in the renunciation. I don't think the transition was easy. I don't think he stopped fighting the demons within himself once he took that decision. I am often intrigued by, whether I read a novel or study history, the transitional period. *What made you choose Bipasha Basu [Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=bipasha basu> ] for Ashoka?* I think Ajay and Bipasha have excellent screen chemistry. She plays the role of Kaurwaki. She has to be sensuous and also a person of determination. This could be one of the most challenging roles of her career. *There surely are people who will remind you about The Legend of Bhagat Singh. Did that film eventually make the money?* The producers of the film say they haven't recovered the investment. And yet, TIPS is so proud of the film, it is mentioned as their proudest achievement. Though the film was not a runaway hit, thousands liked it. It won many awards. Many people in India consider it to be one of the finest historical films made by an Indian filmmaker.
