Set in the ancient Indus Valley civilisation[9] city of Mohenjo-daro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is loosely based on Ali Baba's Sindhi novel "Mohan Jo Daro".

[17][18] Mohenjo Daro marks the last film production of UTV Motion Pictures, as two Disney releases, Dangal and Jagga Jasoos, became producer Kapur's final projects under the Disney·UTV brand before his contract with the company lapsed on 1 January 2017; the non-Hindi versions of both films were nonetheless presented by the banner, while Jagga Jasoos faced delays before its release in mid-July 2017.

Arriving in Mohenjo-daro, Sarman learns that the city is ruled by the tyrannical Senate Chief Maham (Kabir Bedi) and his wicked son Moonja (Arunoday Singh).

Sarman gains access to the upper city by showing his uncle's amulet and meets Chaani (Pooja Hegde), the daughter of the head priest (Manish Choudhary) of Mohenjo Daro.

On the night before Sarman's clash with Bakar and Zokar, the head priest reveals to him how Maham was expelled from Harappa for illegal trade with the Sumerians.

The wise Senate Chief Srujan (Sharad Kelkar), who is revealed to be Sarman's father, opposed this, but Maham won the vote to build the dam.

Cameo appearances Director Ashutosh Gowariker was first inspired to make a film set in the ancient Indus Valley civilszation when he was in Bhuj, Gujarat, scouting locations for his then-upcoming Lagaan (2001), and stumbled across the massive excavations in progress at the ruins of Dholavira: "I thought, My God!

[30][32] Thus, regardless of the literal translation of the words, "Mohenjo Daro" was the only possible title for an audience to identify with the actual reference point despite the fact that the city could have not been so named in ancient times.

[31] The challenges of adapting for cinema a story based on one of the greatest ancient civilisations of the world whose written language has not yet been deciphered have proved unique.

Because modern science can not yet read anything the Indus Valley peoples wrote about themselves, any aspect about their civilisation has to be conjectured from what relics survive to discovery by archaeologists working at their various ruins.

[31] After much reading of published archaeological reports on his own, he brought in the American archaeologist Jonathan Mark Kenoyer of the University of Wisconsin–Madison,[34] considered one of the world's leading experts on the ancient Indus Valley civilisation, who had worked at the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro over 35 years.

Ajit Prasad,[34] V. N. Prabakhar,[34] K. Krishnan,[34] Vasant Shinde,[34] and R. S. Bisht,[34] "who are all from the Archaeological Survey of India, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and other institutions, all with expertise in different aspects of the same civilisation.

Because although "undisputed traces of cotton cloth have survived at Mohenjo-Daro" and the Indus culture is believed by archaeologists to have pioneered the cultivation of cotton for clothmaking in the ancient world,[42] no actual samples of finished clothing or other organic matter have survived over these four thousand years, due to the "damp alkalkine soil" prevailing at the Indus sites.

[48] Relating the natural environment required for Mohenjo Daro, Gowariker was impressed with the calamitous VFX seen in the films The Day After Tomorrow and 10,000 BC that were designed by Karen Goulekas.

[50] In August 2014, Roshan, who had starred in Gowariker's critically and commercially successful Jodhaa Akbar in 2008, was confirmed to play the male lead role again for Mohenjo Daro.

"[52] Telugu and Tamil cinema actress Pooja Hegde was signed as the female lead, and made her Hindi film debut with Mohenjo Daro.

[54] For supporting roles, casting director Nalini Rathnam wanted to bring in newer and fresh faces, even from non-Hindi speaking regions.

[57] Construction of the primary outdoor sets to be used in recreating the ancient city duly commenced in Bhuj, Gujarat, near where Gowariker had shot his earlier film, Lagaan (2001).

[58] As AGPPL producer Sunita Gowariker recounted their initial dialogue when Ashutosh decided Mohenjo Daro as his next project, her immediate response was that the city does not exist any more, how would they shoot the film.

[59] Painstaking effort was made to ensure accuracy of the city's film set construction, matching its proportions and architecture to the actual archaeological ruins.

"[60] However, construction was delayed in mid-September 2014, when workers belonging to Allied Mazdoor Union and Film Studio Setting refused to complete the pre-production work, alleging non-payment of their regular expenses and remuneration.

Because Mohenjo Daro was a physically demanding film with challenging action sequences that were to be shot starting with the very first schedule, and no body doubles were to be used, Gowariker postponed the shoot for six weeks, until January 2015.

Confirming this delay, Sunita Gowariker stated, "Ashutosh and I want Hrithik to recuperate fully before beginning the film, since we plan to start with action sequences.

[64] But the demanding action sequences needed by the film took a hard physical toll on the cast which resulted in delays due to injury, especially when an accident involved the lead actor, Hrithik Roshan, who was required for the maximum number of scenes.

Another outdoor schedule of filming began in Jabalpur on 2 November 2015, where a fight sequence with crocodiles was completed on the banks of river Narmada at Bhedaghat.

[71] Unfortunately, however, an on-set accident during an action sequence in January 2016 tore two ligaments and severely sprained the ankle of lead actor Hrithik Roshan, which kept him home on crutches and doctor-ordered bed rest for two whole months before primary photography could resume in late March.

[75][76] On 3 August 2016, the Bombay High Court rejected allegations by Akashaditya Lama that Gowariker had plagiarised his script, and also "... imposed exemplary and punitive costs of Rs.

[92][93] Mohenjo Daro received mixed reviews from critics who praised its cast performances, musical numbers, action sequences, VFX and characterisation, but criticised its historical inaccuracies, script and screenplay.

[95] Srijana Mitra Das of The Times of India gave the film a rating of 4/5 and wrote "Straight away, if you want to enjoy Mohenjo Daro, leave your disbelief by the door for Ashutosh Gowarikar's newest blast from the past only works as a fairy tale, not nailed in history, but hanging somewhere between Game of Thrones and Baahubali.

[97] Bollywood Hungama gave the film rating of 2.5/5 and wrote "Mohenjo Daro comes across as a grand historical fictional tale which appeals only in parts.