Barbara Mori begins filming for Kites

Mexican beauty Barbara Mori has come to Mumbai and began shooting the final leg of Kites from January 4th. Accompanied by her mother and sister, Mori has been enjoying Hrithik’s hospitality ever since she arrived in the city.

“Barbara is the Roshan family’s special guest. Hrithik is taking special care of her. She doesn’t eat set food as it’s very oily. Special food is served for her which is completely oil free. In fact she had once shared Hrithik’s dabba with him and since she liked it a lot, her food now comes from his home for her,” informs a source from the set.

“Barbara’s mother and sister also visited the sets to see the shooting. The filming goes on till 10pm every night,” adds the source.

With Hrithik’s birthday round the corner, celebrations are being planned for the superstar.

“Hrithik’s birthday is on the 10th and the whole crew is planning to celebrate it on the sets. There will also be a small get together in Hrithik’s home and Barbara is expected to attend with her family,” informs the source.

Barbara Mori and her family are staying at Oakwood Premier, a service apartment in Juhu ever since she arrived in Mumbai at the start of the month.

Mori plays an important role opposite Hrithik Roshan along with Kangana Ranaut in Kites. The film is directed by Anurag Basu. Kites is releasing in May 2009.

Hrithik spotted with three ladies

Oakwood Premier, a block of serviced apartments in Juhu, has a star visitor these days. Hrithik Roshan is seen three regularly. And guess what, he comes to meet there ladies in an apartment.

But hold on, they are none other than his “Kites” co-star Barbara Mori, her mom and her sister who have just come back from a holiday in Goa.

Hrithik wanted them to be very comfortable in Mumbai and hence he himself searched for an apartment wherein the trio ladies would be comfortable and feel special. He also arranged for their traveling not only from the sets but also to site-see around Mumbai.

Hrithik is paying a whopping Rs.60,000 a day for the apartment. And Barbara's mother just can’t stop talking about Hrithik and his hospitality!

Hrithik Roshan plays a Salsa instructor in Kites

Hrithik Roshan plays a Las Vegas based Salsa dance instructor in Kites. And Rakesh Roshan, the producer of the film, is sparing no cost to ensure that his son, who is already one of the best dancers in Bollywood, surpasses his previous performances. Totally motivated, Hrithik has set his best foot forward, and he is working extremely hard on his new moves. So much so that he hardly meets anyone.

The Roshans have got US-based choreographer Flexy Stu to choreograph a dance sequence in the film. Presently, the song being shot in a suburban studio in Mumbai is picturised on Hrithik and Kangna Ranaut. Supposedly, it is a crucial song during which Kangna, who plays a rich siren in the film, realizes her love for the dance instructor. The film also stars South American beauty Barbara Mori, who is expected in India in early January to shoot her part.

Looking forward to 2009 in Bollywood

The New Year has dawned with a promise of more entertaining and thought-provoking cinema from Bollywood. Will new milestones be reached in 2009? Here’s a look.

If 2008 ended on a promising note, 2009 begins with a bang, with some big banner movies set to hog the marquee. The Bhatt camp’s Raaz - The Mystery Continues and the Sippys’ Chandni Chowk To China with Akshay Kumar at the helm would be the two scene stealers of January, which will also witness the release of Zoya Akhtar’s dark comedy on Bollywood, Luck By Chance , due for January 30 release along with Harman Baweja ’s second film Victory . Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire , a Golden Globe nominee and an Oscar hopeful, might get released in January after its successful run at overseas box office.

The month of February would see the release of movies like Priyadarshan’s Billu Barber and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra ’s Dilli 6.

This year will see directors like Anurag Basu and Imtiaz Ali returning after a break of one year. While the Rakesh Roshan produced Kites can hit the theatres any time around mid year as the movie is still in the making and its major chunk is still to be shot, Imtiaz Ali will comeback with yet another love story, untitled yet, starring Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan .

Rajkumar Hirani will not give any Munnabhai jhappi, but will return with a thought-provoking film that takes a dig at our education system in 3 Idiots which is based on bestseller novel ‘Five Point Someone’ and has Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. Most likely, ‘3 Idiots’ would close 2009.

Lavishly budgeted movies in this period of recession may appear absurd but they would be one too many in 2009. London Dreams by Vipul Shah, Kambakkth Ishq by Sajid Nadiadwala , and the Salman Khan -written historical drama ‘Veer’ are some of the celluloid mammoths that would roar in 2009. ‘Kambakkth Ishq’ is particularly special as it has some Hollywood biggies in cameos for the first time in an Indian masala movie.

On the contrary, industry giants like Yashraj and Dharma Productions have few movies lined up this year. There is no news as to when Karan Johar’s much anticipated My Name Is Khan with Kajol and Shahrukh Khan is going to release. Possibly, by this year end. Yashraj will begin this year with New York directed by Kabir Khan and starring John Abraham , Neil Nitin Mukesh and Katrina Kaif . Katrina would also be seen in a love story Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor .

Himesh Reshammiya will be back with a movie named A Love Issshtory , again paired opposite two beautiful ladies. You can also watch some off-beat parallel cinema like Dev. D , Aur Devdas , Tera Kya Hoga Johnny , Wake Up Sid , Delhi Belly , Lamha , Teen Patti , Johnny Mastana which has Amitabh Bachchan in the lead, Nagesh Kukunoor’s Eight By Ten or the Bipasha Basu starrer Pankh or Mallika Sherawat ’s nagin act in Hisss .

Some serious directors would dabble in comedy for the first time. Ashutosh Gowarikar is trying some rib-tickling humour in What's Your Raashi with Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja. And Vishal Bharadwaj will return with Kaminay which stars Shahid Kapur and Priyanka in the lead.

And not to forget, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is returning back to what he does best and directing a movie with Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai . Ash would also be seen in Mani Ratnam’s next with hubby Abhishek Bachchan .

From the look of it, 2009 holds out a promising spread.

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.

Hrithik meets Michael Jackson

Hrithik Roshan couldn't believe his eyes when pop king Michael Jackson casually walked into his make-up room in LA, where he was stationed for the shooting for Kites being directed by Anurag Basu.

No one was aware that the pop singer was going to drop in on the set. A source reveals, "Hrithik was in his make-up room when Michael's two bodyguards entered.

He was taken aback to see these burly men enter the room. On questioning them, he learnt that they were Michael's body guards."

It is believed that the singer had come to do a recce as he was shooting the next day in the same bungalow.

It was a coincidence that Jackson dropped in the same day as the Kites team was shooting.

Sources from the film reveal that Hrithik also took pictures with Jackson.

"Michael introduced himself to Hrithik. It was a funny scene to see someone like him who the whole world knows introducing himself.

The two spoke for a short time and then Micheal left."

The singer who is usually seen wearing gloves, didn't have them on, that day.

British super model Kate Moss had dropped in on the sets of Dostana in Miami where John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan were shooting.

Exclusive images of Hrithik & Barbara during Kites shoot in Mexico & Vegas

Hrithik Roshan's eagerly awaited next film Kites is definitely worth watching out, for he plays a Salsa dance instructor who falls in love with Latino sensation, Barbara Mori. Kangna Ranaut plays a rich girl who falls in love with her dance teacher. Director Anurag Basu has canned several sequences during the outdoor schedule in Las Vegas and New Mexico and is looking forward to the last schedule in Film City, Mumbai. Yes, there will be lots of breathtaking break-free dance moments that you guys would love to devour with baited breath. Hrithik is working with Flexy, a choreographer from New York who has worked with him in a few of his ads. In this special feature we bring you our interpretation in the form of short poems of these exclusive pictures (courtesy http://kites-themovie.com). Two of the pictures are from the location while three others are from the event where Hrithik and Barbara were being honoured by the Sikh Community representatives in New Mexico - Bibiji Inderjit Kaur (on behalf of New Mexico Governor) and Tejinder Singh (in blue turban) respectively.

Ladies and gentlemen, a curvaceous assassin is on the loose
Kill with a bullet or the champagne eyes, whatever you choose
If all the killers were in such good shape;
Less crime, forget everything and just gape.

When you have me for company, why talk long distance
Let the ballooning dreams fly in hot air defying all sense
I wouldn't let the clouds of despair hover around
How 'bout Salsa in mid air, hey play some rockin sound

This one's bigger than all the limelight awards
Hard work is worth-it for such solemn rewards
We may live distantly but our heart-beats together
So much affection, hope it stays like this forever

Black suits me for fair achievements
Thank you for showering me with compliments
Radiant persona is the reason for my success story
Naam to suna hoga...its Barbara Mori

Respect for elders isn't culture specific
Moist eyes, warm hugs, what a pic
Smiles, stronger than biggest of mountains
Immense love pouring out of millions of fountains

Hrithik continues being busy

Hrithik Roshan returned to Mumbai from Mexico in mid-October after a four-month long shooting schedule of “Kites” with Barbara Mori and Kangana Ranaut.

And he’s been busy ever since he came back.

As many would know, Hrithik as a child had to undergo therapy to check his stammering problem. So it was payback time as he donated Rs.20 lakhs towards Nanavati Hospital’s audiology department under his grandmother Ira Roshan’s name.

Next, he went back to doing his endorsement work. In the next few days he will start shooting ads for some of the brands he endorses. One can expect to see him in his “Kites” look, sporting curly golden-brown hair and beard, in ads for brands like Macro Man and Coke.

Post this, the Mumbai schedule of “Kites” will commence and will go on till February end. "After the ‘Kites’ schedule in February, Hrithik will again shoot for John Players and Cinthol, and some other brands too in March," says Tannuja Mehra of Carving Dreams, which handles his business.

Hrithik is planning to custom-make a vanity vehicle for Barbara

Hrithik Roshan is leaving no stone unturned to make sure Barbara Mori, his co-star in Anurag Basu's Kites, feels at home when she shoots in India. Sources reveal the actor is planning to provide her a lavish vanity van when she arrives for the Mumbai schedule.

Apparently, Hrithik is concerned that the Mexican model-turned-actress may not take well to the work environment in Bollywood, and so wants her to feel extremely comfortable.

Says a source, "As she is new to Bollywood and its style of functioning, Hrithik wants to ensure that she has a pleasant experience here."

The source adds, "Hrithik is in talks to make a special vanity van for Barbara. It will be lavishly done up with all the modern amenities. Since this is the first time she will be working in the city, Hrithik has planned to make it a memorable experience."

The source says that the cost of the van is estimated to be anywhere between Rs 1.5 to 2 crore.

"Apart from the basics, it will also be laden with foodstuff and other goodies according to the actress's needs. Hrithik is very protective of Barbara and has become very friendly with her. He also plans to introduce her to other Bollywood stars."

Buzz is that Barbara's love child Sergio, who Hrithik dotes on, will accompany her for the Kites shoot here.

"The van will also have games and other things Sergio might enjoy. Hrithik has met Sergio and shares a good rapport with him." It is learnt that Hrithik and Sergio got close during their schedule in New Mexico.

Produced by Rakesh Roshan, Kites also stars Kangana Ranaut. The film is a multilingual one, as it has characters of different nationalities.

Informs director Anurag Basu, "The Mumbai schedule of Kites will begin from December."

Hrithik is in Bora Bora

Kites is Hrithik Roshan's first English home production and papa Roshan is loosening the purse strings to find exotic and unusual locales to film. So after shooting in Las Vegas for almost 2 months, Hrithik is taking a breather.

Hrithik says, "Yes it has been a hectic shooting schedule, from Mexico to Las Vegas. But now I am in Bora Bora enjoying some time with my family."

Bora Bora is off the beaten track for most film makers, some160 miles from Tahiti. The last we had heard of Tahiti was when Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan flew down there for their honeymoon. And now its Hrithik and his family.

Wonder of Hrithik did get some tips from his childhood buddy Bachchan Junior...

"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...

Rakesh Roshan's big deal

Rakesh Roshan has sold Kites, starring Hrithik and Barbara Mori, for Rs 120 crore. So why did he crib about shelling out Rs 2 crore to composer Ram Sampat?

Rakesh Roshan might have lost on a few crores in the Ram Sampat copyright controversy just before his film Krazzy 4 hit the marquee.

But the tight-fisted Roshan needn’t mope about the loss.
It is learnt that the filmmaker has struck a deal to end all deals.

Roshan has sold the rights for his next production Kites, directed by Anurag Basu, to Eros International for a whopping Rs 120 crore.

The film stars Hrithik Roshan with US-based model-actress Barbara Mori besides Kangana Ranaut.

A khabru says, “Rakesh Roshan is ecstatic. He has managed to sell Kites even before it hits the floors.

The amount is the highest-ever a movie has got till date.

The price has been pushed up because Hrithik has no other film lined up for release until Kites releases early next year.

Roshan Sr has received a token signing amount of Rs 10 crore and the rest will be paid as the shooting progresses.”

Roshan, who is back in Mumbai after location hunting in the US for Kites says, “No deal has been done.” But the khabru insists, “The filmmaker and Eros International do not want the deal to be publicised at this stage as it is too early.”

Keeping the money rolling
Om Shanti Om – Rs 75 crore (Eros bought the world rights from Red Chillies Entertainment)

Welcome – Rs 34 crore (UTV bought the world rights from Base Industries and later Studio 18 bought it for Rs 45 crore from UTV)

Singh Is Kinng – Rs 56 crore (Studio 18 bought the world rights from Blockbuster Movie Entertainers)

Race and Kismet Konnection – Rs 91 crore (UTV bought the world rights from Tips)

Heroes and Tere Sang – Rs 33 crore (Eros International bought the world rights from Bharat Shah)

Hrithik can’t wait for Kites to begin

Hrithik Roshan hasn’t met her yet but he is most kicked about working with Latin American sizzler Barbara Mori. She features with him in his father Rakesh Roshan’s next production, Kites, directed by Anurag Basu. Barbara is expected in Mumbai soon for her costumes and make-up look.

Says Hrithik, “She is simply amazing. I have seen her in the Spanish film La Mujer De Mi Harmani (My Brother’s Wife). She attracted a lot of eyeballs in it. We begin shooting for Kites in July in the US.”

Hrithik also gets to romance Kangana Ranaut in Kites. “But I can’t tell you whether that was the role Sonam Kapoor was offered. It was all speculation.”

The actor is eager to sign more films. “The holy books say ask and you shall receive. I’ve asked. Let’s see when I receive. At the moment, I’ve one other commitment a cameo in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance.”

Later, Hrithik goes into another film with his father though he isn’t sure it would be another Krissh. “It all depends on the script. We need to make sure it’s made for the right reasons and not just to encash on the brand. What we have right now is mindblowing but we want to go further. At this stage of our careers, we can’t do another Krissh just for the action. We can’t have just good and bad and all that jazz.”

Subash K. Jha