It’s been two years since Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan’s last film, the immensely successful Jodhaa Akbar that went on to win several awards, besides establishing him as one of India’s most versatile actors.
Living up to expectations is always difficult, especially if your last few films have been nothing less than super-hits. With Kites, the actor only hopes to take competition a few notches higher.
No film has been more discussed in recent times than Kites, no, not even Shah Rukh Khan’s My Name Is Khan (of course, the Shiv Sena episode aside).
Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots became a conversation starter after it released. But Kites has kept all sorts of rumours afloat for two years, giving gossip columnists enough meat - from Hrithik Roshan falling in love with his onscreen love, Bárbara Mori to leaving his wife Suzanne Khan.
There are good reasons for Kites to hog the spotlight. Besides having a budget of US$30 million, it will be released in English, Hindi and Spanish. And we are not talking of a ‘subtitled release’.
Two versions of the film will hit screens - the 131-minute Hindi version for those who want returns for the high-priced multiplex tickets and the 90-minute English version for those who want to see a Hollywood-type film from India. No compromises have been made on any aspect of the film - from stunt sequences to dancing to having the best actors. At the helm is Hrithik’s father and one of India’s most successful producers, Rakesh Roshan.
“There has been no change in our planning. The visualisation was always there. We wanted to film Kites like an international film and we have. I agree that my last two productions with Hrithik were of international quality but we were not ready for international markets. In Kites we tell the universal story of love... to put it very simply,” says Rakesh.
There is nothing too complex about the film’s plot. Jai is found wounded in the heart of the Mexican desert. From being a much-loved young man to the most wanted, death looms large. He is in search of Natasha (Barbara Mori) with whom he falls in love in spite of language and cultural barriers. Love makes him cross all dangers, especially those awaiting in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Roshan continues, “There are no songs as such. Like in English films, all the songs are heard in the background. The visual montage is very entertaining. Wherever we shot, we blocked roads and highways after taking proper permission. Usually cameras are hidden inside cars to shoot scenes. In New Mexico there are some excellent car-chase sequences. We used 58 cars and stunt drivers were hired to drive them. Then we hired a piece of land in New Mexico to build a garage for the cars. Since these were non-licensed cars, we had to carry them everywhere on trailers.”
American filmmaker and music video director Brett Ratner’s services have been hired to make the English version. “I didn’t meet him till the editing process. He will condense the film into 90 minutes to suit US sensibilities. He has left out some scenes that mainly appeal to Indian audiences.”
Getting Anurag Basu to direct the film is another high for Roshan. Basu is known to direct low-budget films. “Krrish was selected for an award where Gangster was also nominated. After watching his film I called on him and gave him a few sequences. He thought I was joking… I have made 15 successful films and have little to worry about the way ahead. All I know is that only good films will outlive me. I thought Anurag is capable of giving something more than Life In A Metro, etc.”
And what about Barbara Mori? “We were looking for a Mexican and for sometime thought of hiring an Indian actress settled in Mexico. Then we auditioned a few stars in Los Angeles. Finally, I came across Barbara’s My Brother’s Wife. When we met her in Mexico and then in Los Angeles, she made it clear that the film shouldn’t involve dancing and all that ‘Bollywood stuff’.”
Speaking about the budget he says, “Once I start filming, I don’t worry about cost. I’ve spent in areas that deserved the money. There is nothing excess.”
Before trailing off he spoke about the way Hrithik has matured. “He has surprised everybody. I was absolutely stunned to see him in Jodhaa Akbar. With Kites he has taken his skills higher.”
No comments:
Post a Comment