Hrithik-Barbara lovestory transcends boundaries!

Anurag Basu is super excited about his latest film under production KITES, starring Hrithik Roshan opposite Mexican Barbara Mori, which is about love transcending cultural and language barriers.

Here, Barabar Mori's character speaks only Spanish and while that of Hrithik's only Hindi, but despite of this barrier they fall in love with each other. But in spite of all the talks about steamy scenes the movie is not about sex but is an intensely romantic film.

There is some spice too in the story with a love triangle involving Kangana Ranaut's character and a thriller twist towards the end.

Director Anurag is working with the very talented and handsome Hrithik Roshan for the first time. He says, "Hrithik and I really enjoyed working together. I always respected him as an actor but now I respect him as a human being too. Hrithik and I made the film honestly, just like we wanted to."

Anurag was amazed by Hirthik's professionalism in spite of a knee injury.

"Before every shot I would be worried about Hrithik's knee. If anything happened to him, then our entire outdoor shooting schedule would've gone for a toss. But Hrithik asked me not to compromise the shots under any circumstance. I'm awed by the way he managed, without ever letting the shoot halt. He even did the few action scenes we have in the film himself."Says Anurag.

And it is learnt that Anurag is impressed by Barbara Mori too. He stated, "The day I narrated bout KITES I knew I had chosen the right actress. I've this bad habit of narrating very fast. Barbara is a Mexican actress, so she is not aware of Hindi and also less familiar with English. But the way she understood my story, hats off to her. Her expressions changed while I was narrating the story. I've never seen any actor responding this way. Even though she comes from a different culture, the emotions of love and relationships are the same. Her approach was definitely different."

KITES will be complete by January and Basu says he is nervous because of the huge expectations surrounding the multilingual film and hopes that it delivers.

We too want the movie on which he worked so hard to deliver maximum results.

"I am going home" says 'Kites' Cinematographer

All's not well on the sets on Rakesh Roshan's Kites in New Mexico. The producer upset cinematographer Bobby Singh so much that the he stormed out of the under-production film.

Kites, being directed by Anurag Basu stars Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori. It was the director who brought the cinematographer on board. They'd worked together in the past in Metro, Woh Lamhe and Gangster. And Roshan agreed to have him on board after seeing his work.

According to a reliable source, "Bobby and Anurag are friends, besides being a great team. Basu appreciates Bobby's work and gives him a free hand. But Roshan had his own ideas of how the film should look. He didn't agree with Bobby's style and would interfere in camera angles and light shots etc.

Initially Bobby kept quiet as Rakesh is a senior filmmaker and creative differences happen on every set. But as the days went by, Bobby felt his work as a cinematographer was increasingly getting undermined."

The differences between Bobby and Roshan was affecting everyone on the set. Things finally came to a head on the day when Roshan Sr shouted at Bobby in front of the whole cast ad crew. The source says, "Bobby was fixing his camera for a particular shot when Rakesh came up to him and started firing him loudly.

Rakesh had apparently told Bobby to do the shot from another angle but Bobby wanted to try a different angle. Rakesh was furious as Bobby had disregarded his instructions, and made his displeasure clear in front of the entire unit. Bobby felt so humiliated about this dressing down that he stormed off the sets and took a flight straight back to Mumbai!"

When contacted Bobby doesn't deny the story but says, "Yes I am no more a part of Kites but I don't want to talk about it."

Hrithik to fly high with Kites soon

Actor Hrithik Roshan must be enjoying his daddy's days out, what with him having become father second time only recently. Duggu plans to spend as much time with family, as come July the actor is going to be in and out of the country.

Hrithik will embark to shoot for daddy Roshan's next production to be directed by Anurag Basu – Kites . The film also stars Mexican actor Barabara Mori. Hrithik tells us, "We begin shooting in July, and will be shooting in USA, Las Vegas and Mexico.

"We're going to be out of the country for more than two months. The film will be ready by year end," says Hrithik.

Kites is a romantic thriller. "It's about an Indian boy who falls in love with a Mexican," explains director Anurag Basu. So let's wait for Kites to soar!

Hrithik's kissing scene in Kites

We all know of Hrithik Roshan's next film Kites which is his dear dad's home production. The film starring the actor, American model Barbara Mori and Kangana Ranaut is a romantic comedy about two people who fall in love without even speaking the same language.

Sources on the sets have revealed that the Hrithik-Barbara chemistry is definitely quite a sizzler. Anurag Basu doesn't want to leave it all up the audiences' imagination and has been pursuing Rakesh Roshan to approve a kissing scene between the two.

Unfortunately Roshan is uncomfortable with the prospect, The director has been having meetings with Roshan Sr for a few days now in order to discuss this very prospect.

"All Anurag's films are real," says a source working on the project. "He doesn't shy away from portraying intimacy on screen. Unfortunately Roshan isn't too sure if Basu's treatment will work for Kites. He isn't too comfortable with his son kissing another woman in his home production. The two have been arguing over the issue."

So will Anurag Basu have his way? Or will Roshan Sr nip the lip-lock talk in the bud? We'll just have to wait and watch...

Should Big B retire? The industry reacts to Anurag Basu's opinion

Sanjay Leela Bhansali: "I think Mr Basu seriously needs to re-assess what he has said about Amitji. Please ask him to go back to all this unbeatable actor's films from Anand to Namak Halaal to the recent ones Like Black and Baghban…The nuances in his comic timing and the dramatic pauses in his emotional scenes…waah! There can never be another Amitabh Bachchan. Just as there can never be another Lata Mangeshkar. Both represent the last word in perfection in their respective arts. To imagine Hindi cinema without them is unimaginable to me. I'm dying to do another film with him after Black. I feel no filmmaker is complete without working with him. He's the God of acting"

Balki (Cheeni Kum): "Who is Anurag Basu to talk about Amitabh Bachchan? Just because you rip off a couple of DVDs and make a couple of films you don't get the right to decide when Amitabh Bachchan should retire. It's become a cheap publicity gimmick to talk about Amitabh Bachchan and get noticed. It's like my driver saying the Dalai Lama should stop fighting, or remove the Taj Mahal from Agra. To me, Amitabh Bachchan is India's greatest treasure. Anurag Basu may not want to see his films. But there are millions who want to.

Hema Malini: "An artiste like Mr Bachchan can never retire. Every film of his is a learning experience for all generations of actors. I want him around for many years for a very selfish reason. He's the only leading man who suits me, ha ha."

Farhan Akhtar: "I think it's entirely Amit Uncle's decision as to when and if at all he should retire. None of is qualified to give him this kind of advice.

Ram Gopal Varma: "During his brief career Mr Anurag Basu has directed 2-3 films which can be considered hits within their budget. For him to comment on Mr Bachchan who has given terrific performances and umpteen blockbusters for more than thirty years and is today a full-on iconic figure, just makes me sad for Mr Basu. Fine…he didn't like Mr Bachchan in Aag and some other recent films. I myself didn't like Mr Bachchan in some films. I may not be considered much of a filmmaker by Mr Basu. But in my humble experience, an actor is as good as the role he's given and the way the director chooses to present him. Being a thorough professional Mr Bachchan simply surrenders to the director. As a talented director Mr Basu should understand that. Not a single person in the industry doubts Mr Bachchan's talent. If he failed in Aag or any other film it's the director's failure to use him properly. I can't understand what prompted this tirade from Mr Basu. More than him, I am angry with Mr Bachchan for reacting to Mr Basu. Please don't undermine your status by reacting to small fries like me and Mr Basu. As the old saying goes, when an elephant walks dogs will bark

Harry Baweja: "Will Anurag retire when someone asks him to? He better leave this decision to the legend himself."

Madhur Bhandarkar: "I can't understand what made Anurag Basu speak like this. It's a bizarre statement to make. Filmmakers and audiences worship Mr Bachchan. Any director would today give their right hand to work with him. I haven't so far. But I'd love to. Anurag is free to work with and see the films of the actors he likes. But as a responsible filmmaker he should be more careful in expressing his opinion about someone who represents the entertainment industry.

Suneel Darshan: "This is outrageous. Nobody has the right to decide Mr Bachchan's fate."

Vikram Bhatt: "Amitabh Bachchan is forever. You're making a big mistake by asking me whether Anurag was right or not. I'm Mr Bachchan's biggest fan. Even if he wants to retire I'd want him to go on.

Irrfan Khan: "Mr Bachchan will retire when he has to. He has no other choice."

Aadesh Shrivastav: "Who is Anurag Basu?"

Anupam Kher: "I can't understand what must've got into Anurag Basu to say something so outrageous. I know him as a soft-spoken non-controversial person. And why should he take it on himself to decide a retirement plan for Mr Bachchan? And if Clint Eastwood can go on as 'Dirty Harry' at the age of 80 why should Mr Bachchan retire.

Vipul Shah: "I think when he wants to retire is Mr Bachchan's personal choice and he knows what to do best. I'm sure Anurag also respects Mr Bachchan as much as all of us. But I feel even if he meant well, a statement like this hurts the sentiments of Indians all over the world."

Anubhav Sinha: "The decision to retire or not retire is entirely Mr Bachchan's. Personally, I wouldn't want him to retire until I've made at least one film with him. Anurag should stop drinking whatever he was drinking when he said that.

Vashu Bhagnani: "I don't think Mr Bachchan should ever retire. Bollywood won't be the same without him. He's like wine. Gets better with age. I want to see what other peaks he conquers."

Subash K. Jha