Kites all set to go global; Rakesh Roshan has also revived the idea of a Krissh sequel. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will not be directing the Krissh sequel for Rakesh Roshan.

Rakesh has decided to take over the responsibility from Rakeysh, and with good reason. After Kites, Rakesh Roshan wants to take Hrithik’s career to the next international level.

The next instalment of Krissh will therefore be a super-hero film to compete with the Hollywood films of the genre like Batman, Superman and Spiderman.

Confirming these developments Rakesh Roshan who has won the ‘director of the decade’ award in Macau says, “The destiny of the next Krissh movie depends entirely on the way Kites goes. Kites director Anurag Basu and I are preparing two different versions of Kites in Hindi and English. The English version will be viewed by our potential buyers in the US. Only then will we move forward with plans on how to release Kites and how to make the next Krissh movie. We should release by December.”

Rakesh Roshan hasn’t directed a film since Krissh in 2006. But now he plans to go fully international with the Krissh sequel.

“It all depends on the fate of Kites in the international market,” says Rakesh Roshan. -

While shooting a critical sequence in Santa Fe, Babara Mori made her shy co-star Hrithik Roshan discard his desi inhibitions to express love in one of its natural manifestations. The kiss.

After Dhoom 2 and the absolutely aesthetic kiss with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Hrithik will be seen doing a number of lip-locks with Barbara Mori in his next release, the much-anticipated Kites.

When asked about it Hrithik is amused. “Why are we even talking about kissing? Is that such a big deal ? Hasn’t our cinema grown up? Yes, there’re kissing scenes in the film. But nothing to make me squirm. In fact I’d be more than happy and completely comfortable watching those kissing scenes with my wife, son and parents when the film is released.”

Rationalizing the need to look at lip-locking in Bollywood rationally Hrithik argues, “Kites is a love story. It’s about people in love. And what do people in love do to express their mutual feelings? In fact it was Barbara Mori who made me realize how silly we look on screen while shying away from expressing love naturally.”

This happened while Hrithik and Barbara were shooting a tough and dangerous action sequence in Santa Fe.

“We were both supposed to jump off from a rooftop at an impossible height. Before we did so our director Anurag Basu suggested I kiss Barbara since we were doing something dead-defying and dangerous and potentially lethal. I reached out and kissed her on the cheeks. Barbara turned around to ask why I had kissed her on the cheek. ‘Given the same situation with your real-life wife Sussanne would you kiss her on the cheeek?’ I was floored by her logic.”

The take was repeated. “And this time I kissed her the way real-life couples would in the situation. On the lips,” says Hrithik with matter-of-fact directness.

Now getting ready for a long and final schedule of Kites in Mumbai Hrithik says, “I first shoot with Kangana Ranaut in December. And then Barbara joins us in January.” -

One look at the Kites synopsis and it immediately strikes that there is no mention of Kangana Ranaut who plays a significant role in this Hrithik Roshan – Barbara Mori starrer. Kites is directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Hrithik’s dad Rakesh Roshan.

Our source involved with the film however reveals, “Kites has Hrithik playing a salsa teacher. Kangana plays a very rich girl and is shown as Hrithik’s dance student. Her role is comparatively shorter than that of Barbara in the film.”

Kangana seems to be heavily banking on this film as it’s the only big project she has on her hands right now. With a big raw deal given to her with the film’s initial publicity campaign, one wonders what unpleasant surprises are stored ahead for her.

Take a look at it yourself and decide whether Kangana has been given a raw deal or not -

“In the harsh terrain of the Mexican desert, a mortally wounded man is left for dead in the heat of the desert sun. This is J (Hrithik Roshan) - once a street-smart, carefree young guy and now a wanted man. As death looms, the only thing that keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha (Barbara Mori). A woman, betrothed to another man, surely destined for J; a woman who comes into his life like a bolt of lightning, and changes his life forever.

Love is a moment. The moment J and Natasha saw each other, words were not necessary. In that moment, they knew instantly that they belonged together. But something went wrong. The ensuing fight of the two lovers resulted in a deadly chase. J battles death, but nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover.

Kites is a story of love that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures. It is a story of passion that defies every rule, of a relationship which takes two lovers on a journey that is filled with violence and death, of precious moments that are unforgettable. Finally, it is a story of betrayal that is beyond comprehension.”

Hrithik Roshan is heading for Cannes with his first international project Kites later this week.

Father Rakesh Roshan and director Anurag Basu will accompany the film’s leading man.

Barbara Mori will also be joining Hrithik in Cannes.

Rakesh Roshan who is frantically working to complete all the details took time off to proudly confirm the rendezvous at Cannes.

“Yes Hrithik, Anurag, representatives from Big Pictures and I will be in Cannes later this week.Barbarba Mori will be joining us from Mexico.We’ll be screening a specially-prepared trailer of Kites on 15th. Then on 16 May we’ll screen the film at Cannes for internantional buyers.”

So far all of Rakesh Roshan’s productions have been very desi in their appeal. Kites is being taken to an international audience. And Cannes is the first stop, therefore very important.

Says Rakesh, “We hope to pitch Kites as our production house’s first truly international product. Cannes is a very important venue for international cinema. That’s why we’ve made sure to complete the film in time although Anurag Basu and I have been working against time to do do. But we’ve managed.”

Miraculously Rakesh Roshan and Big Pictures have been able to circumvent the current producers-multiplex deadlock to take Kites to Cannes.

Defends Rakesh Roshan, “Why should the strike in the mutiplexes affect our visit to Cannes? We aren’t breaking any of conditions laid down during the strike. We’re not screening our film publicly or for the media at Cannes. This is a screening only for potential buyers from the West.”

The Kites team leaves for Cannes reaches Cannes on May 14 and leaves on the morning of May 17.They’ll be staying at The Martinez in Cannes.

BIG Pictures, motion pictures brand of Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd today unveiled the first look of KITES, its tent pole international production at a press conference held in Cannes.

Present at the conference were Indian superstar Hrithik Roshan, Mexican actress Barbara Mori, director Anurag Basu and writer, producer Rakesh Roshan. The cast and crew unveiled a teaser trailer and some key art posters of KITES (www.kites-thefilm.com). This will be followed by a cocktail reception hosted by BIG Pictures, today evening for KITES cast, crew, international buyers and distributors.

Sunir Kheterpal, Chief Operating Officer, BIG Pictures, says, “KITES brings together India’s premier production house (Filmkraft and Producer Rakesh Roshan), Top Acting Talent from India (Hrithik Roshan) and Mexico (Barbara Mori), International Crew and India’s most well known name in the global filmed entertainment business (BIG Pictures). We are extremely proud to be associated with Filmkraft for marketing and distributing KITES and have put together a diverse team with relevant international experience to take the Film to the widest possible international audiences. Cannes 2009 is the beginning of this exciting journey”.

Producer Rakesh Roshan adds, “Filmkraft is India’s most, forward looking film production house. With each of our film we have tired to push the envelope with path breaking technique, story telling and novel presentation. A film like KITES has never been attempted in India before. This is our attempt to tap the mainstream international audience and we are hopeful that with an able partner like BIG Pictures, we will be able to meet this objective”

Director Anurag Basu says, “I am glad Rakesh Roshan and Hritik Roshan entrusted me with an opportunity to direct KITES. It has been an enriching experience to shoot the film with an international team across world cites. I am happy that KITES is getting such great exposure at Cannes Film Festival, the world’s biggest film market.”

Actor Hrithik Roshan says, “KITES is a story of love that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures. With an internationally renowned crew and crisp story telling we have attempted to create a film which we feel has a scope to reach wider world audience and set new benchmarks.”

Actress Barbara Mori says, “KITES is my first international experience of working in a film with Indian cast and I must say it has been extremely overwhelming. I have cherished every moment of being a part of this film…it’s been like being part of a family. I am glad KITES is being marketed at the Cannes film festival and looking forward to the response the film gets.”

KITES is being marketed extensively across international platforms. BIG Pictures is leaving no stone unturned in promoting the film at the Cannes Film Festival. The cast and crew of the film will be present during all activities related to KITES at the Cannes Film Festival.

KITES also stars Kangana Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi in pivotal roles. Two versions of the film are being readied for release in the last quarter of 2009. In the international markets, KITES will release in the English language version where as in India, the film will release in the Hindi version, which has been shot simultaneously.