Gowarikar has Salman Khan on his viewfinder

New Delhi: What Gowarikar can, very few can! The cerebral director of period Jodhaa Akbar has now expressed a wish to work with maverick actor Salman Khan.

"It's a long cherished dream to work with Salman Khan,” said Ashutosh Gowarikar, on the sidelines of the World Kids International Film Festival held in the capital recently.

But the perfectionist director has nothing concrete to offer the Peter Pan actor right away.

“As soon as I find a script which suits his image, I will approach him," he promises.

The magic of the word ‘Khan’, especially in the Hindi film arena, is not lost on the acclaimed director who took his film Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan, to the Oscars.

Swades with Shah Rukh Khan may have not reaped a whopping success at the box-office but received critical acclaim and also bagged King Khan the Filmfare award in the best actor category.

The director, who is known for making period and issue based films, is trying his hand on comedy for the first time in his upcoming film What's Your Raashee? .

"I am trying to do something different in the film, which is a romantic comedy," says Gowarikar about his latest movie which stars the Love Story 2050 fame couple Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra.

Gowarikar has no worries casting a newcomer whose debut film sank without a trace.

Gowarikar actually endorses Harman’s acting and dancing skills in Love Story 2050.

"I signed Harman because he totally suits the character in What's Your Raashee," he says.

And pretty leading lady Priyanka Chopra draws praise too.

"She is a good actor but I think she has lot more to offer. I am trying to bring something special out of her in my next venture," he adds.

Gowarikar's What's Your Raashee? is based on a Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood, written by noted author Madhu Rye.

Gowarikar accepts it is difficult to make comedies. "This film is a challenge for me, as it is very difficult to make a comedy. But I like to face new challenges," says the director.

The director says that old comedies directed by veteran filmmakers like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee are his all-time favourite films.

"I am a big fan of Hrishida and Basuda. I love to watch Jyoti Swaroop directed Padosan again and again. That's my favourite comedy film," he says.

And will he give up the Director’s chair for a role in a film? Gowarikar denies any plans to return to acting, as of now.

"Right now, I am not really interested in acting. But I will consider acting provided a good character is offered to me."