MUMBAI: Jodhaa Akbar director Ashutosh Gowariker has made it to Variety’s list of the 60 most important people to watch out for, released at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.

A two minute clip of the film was showcased for the first time amidst international buyers and media at Cannes and received an enthusiastic response, claims the film’s executive producer Sunita Gowariker.

“The reactions were amazing. Buyers for Germany, France, South Africa were very excited. Representatives from Venice and Rome were very keen that Jodhaa Akbar be showcased at their festivals,” says Gowariker, who represented the Jodhaa Akbar team at Cannes.

Jodhaa Akbar is a sixteenth century love story about a marriage alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa, with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Bachchan in the lead roles. The scene shown at Cannes was that of Hrithik fighting an elephant.

Produced by UTV and Ashutosh Gowariker Productions, the film is slated for release on 12 October 2007.