Ashutosh Gowariker opens up on why 'acting' at his age is completely 'liberating': 'You don’t have to worry about hairstyle'

Ashutosh Gowariker says acting feels more open today than it did when he started out in films. The actor-filmmaker, who returns to Hindi cinema with ‘System’, said he once felt pressure to look like the “quintessential hero” and fit a fixed screen image. He now finds the process more freeing because he can focus on the role instead of his hairstyle, appearance or the need to play only positive characters.The Indian Express reported, through an exclusive SCREEN interview, that Gowariker spoke about his acting comeback, his early years, and the changes he sees in the industry. “When I was younger, there was always pressure that you had to be the quintessential hero and try and be that positive character, and look and be a particular way on screen. Today, it’s liberating. You don’t have to worry about your hairstyle. I love it now,” he said.Gowariker also looked back at the attention actors once gave to their hair before a shot. “I’m sure the girls still have to do that. I don’t have to,” he added.The filmmaker began his career as an actor before moving behind the camera. He made his debut with Aamir Khan in Ketan Mehta’s ‘Holi’ in 1984. He later appeared with Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Circus’ and ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’. As a director, he went on to make films such as ‘Lagaan’, ‘Swades’ and ‘Jodhaa Akbar’.Gowariker said direction demanded his full attention and kept him away from acting. “When you’re directing a film, it’s such a deeply demanding movie that you can’t focus on anything else. You have to focus only on that. I always wanted to act, but I never had the time,” he said.He returned to acting with the Marathi film ‘Ventilator’ while ‘Mohenjo Daro’ was in post-production. “So, Ventilator came at a time when Mohenjo Daro was in the post-production, and I could give it the time I had to,” he said.His role in ‘System’ came after Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari met him at an IFFI Goa afterparty in 2024. “She said, ‘Hey, Ashu sir! I want to cast you in my movie!’ I said, ‘Done, I’m doing.’”Gowariker is also producing new work, including the docuseries ‘Temple Raiders’, and is planning his next epic film.