With two back-to-back flops, 'What's Your Raashee?' is actually being looked as a sort of re-launch for Hurman. Did that put any extra burden on Gowariker and his team?

'See, I am like a horse who wears blinkers and stays on a path defined for him. Regardless of what happens on a Friday and regardless of what people have to say, Hurman as well as I had to just stay true to our path and follow a certain vision. I worked on him only as much as it was required to get the characterisation right...that's about it,' he said.

Hurman's knowledge about cinema, courtesy his formal education on filmmaking from Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, helped as well.

'That's right. I remember my early interaction with Hurman when his 'Love Story 2050' was yet to be released. I learnt that he had spent a lot of time studying cinema in New York. Being the son of an established filmmaker (Harry Baweja), he could have afforded to take it easy and dreamt of being an overnight star. Still, he did everything to earn the craft and be skilful,' Gowariker said.

There were a couple of other things that impressed Gowariker enough to rope in Hurman as his leading man even after working with established actors like Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

'On seeing the rushes of 'Love Story 2050', I was immediately attracted to Hurman's innocence and endearing quality. Moreover, his passion and dedication for acting and performing showed. All of this contributed to me being completely convinced with the fact that he was just right for 'What's Your Raashee?'. And once that decision was taken, I never ever lost confidence in him,' he said.

(Joginder Tuteja can be contacted at joginder_tuteja@rediffmail.com)