It's flashback time for Lagaan director

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: It''s back to where it all began for Ashutosh Gowariker. From acting in a couple of Close Up commercials during his early days as a model and actor, the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan </span>director has now moved on to directing the toothpaste''s latest ad film.<br />"My first appearance in a Close Up commercial was almost like that of a junior artiste," recalls the actor-turned-director, "A model coordinator came to my college in 1984, looking for a handful of youngsters.‘<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Biryani milegi aur sau rupaiya milega</span>,'' he said. Three of us —Deepak Tijori, Talat Jani (the director of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jeena Sirf Merre Liye</span>) and I — jumped at the opportunity. The ad, made by Ravi Chopra, had Mohnish Behl as the main model. We were the three guys in the background. Then, in 1986, I was the main model for a Close Up commercial directed by Jenny Pinto. So, when Close Up asked me to direct this ad film, I wasn''t going to let the opportunity pass me by. In fact, when I told Close Up and HTA about my old association with the toothpaste, they were quite surprised."<br />The new commercial for Close Up Lemon Mint stars Anupam Kher. "What appealed to me about the script is that, unlike in the past, which has usually been about boy-meets-girl and what the toothpaste can do for your teeth, this one tries to bring in the older generation," offers Ashutosh.<br />Though Ashutosh is all set to announce his next film, he is amused by the irony of life after <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span>. "After making one of the longest feature films ever, I am telling a story in the shortest time possible — 30 seconds —through ad films!" <br />While the man has made three Coke commercials so far, his Close Up ad will premiere on TV on Sunday. And when it does, Ashutosh Gowariker will have more than one reason to flash those pearly whites. </div> </div>