Released in 2001, the film traces the rise of 3rd century Mauryan emperor Ashoka.
The grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka was a ruthless ruler who adopted Buddhism after the Kalinga war.
Director O.P. Ralhan was initially set to direct a film on Ashoka in 1979. The project was eventually shelved.
Santosh Sivan had approached Shah Rukh Khan during the Chaiya Chaiya shoot for Dil Se..
“I could only understand half of what he said…,” SRK recalled about Santosh Sivan, “but I could see the determination in his eyes, and that, somehow or other, he would make it with or without me.'
SRK wanted Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play the role of Kaurwaki. The role went to Kareena Kapoor, marking her first film with SRK.
Santosh and costume designer Anu Vardhan had started working on the project two years before filming.
The film marked the Hindi debut of Ajith Kumar (as Asoka’s half-brother Susima). It’s the only Hindi film Ajith has done.
The role of Susima was first offered to Arvind Swamy, who declined.
All the characters speak modern Hindi instead of ancient Prakrit dialects spoken in the 3rd century BCE. Their names were also changed accordingly.
Saket Chaudhary co-wrote the screenplay with Santosh Sivan. The dialogue was by Abbas Tyrewala.
The film was produced by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Radhika Sangoi.
Priyanka Chopra turned down the offer to appear in a song in the film.
There is no historical evidence of a queen ruling Kalinga at the time of Asoka's invasion.
Unlike other historical epics, the film utilizes minimal special effects, including an absence of digitally added crowds.
The song Raat Ka Nasha was picturised at Bhedaghat and Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh amidst the Narmada River.
Other locations included Panchmarhi (Asoka and princess), Maheshwar (the palace intrigues of Pataliputra), Madhya Pradesh, Jaipur (battle scenes), Igatpuri and Bhubaneswar (the Kalinga portions)
A.R. Rahman had signed on as the film’s composer but opted out. He was replaced by Anu Malik.
The film's background score was provided by Sandeep Chowta.
When asked why he dropped the ‘H’ in Ashoka’s name from the title, SRK commented that he donated the 'H' to history.
The film was dogged by controversy. Historians and politicians accused the makers of distorting historical facts and misrepresenting the Odiya people.
Danny Denzongpa, who essays Asoka's bodyguard, kills Susima in the film to protect his master. In truth, Asoka tricked his brother Susima into a pit full of coal and killed him.
The film explicitly portrays Kalinga as a democracy
The final battle at Kalinga employed over six thousand extras and hundreds of elephants.
More than half the film was shot indoors at Film City and Filmistan.
A song picturized on Johnny Lever (as a Maurya soldier) was edited out.
For its scale, the budget of Asoka was just 13 crores.
Gulzar wrote the lyrics for five songs in the film. The song San Sanana was penned by Anand Bakshi.
Asoka was the first big international release of Shah Rukh Khan. It was also screened at the Venice and Toronto film festivals.
The film was a moderate performer at the Indian box-office. It was released in Tamil as Samrat Ashoka.
Star Plus launched an extended miniseries version of the film, split into five episodes from 28 May 2002 to 25 June 2002
