Papa Sanctions Hrithik-Barbara kiss!

Monday, May 18, 2009

The filmmaker, who went to Cannes to showcase his next venture Kites, spoke to BT about the buzz around the film because of the onscreen chemistry (and kiss) between the lead pair — his son Hrithik and Mexican model-actress Barbara Mori — that reportedly carried on off the sets in Mumbai. Rakesh, who has made half a dozen blockbusters including Khudgarz, Khoon Bhari Maang, Karan Arjun, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Koi Mil Gaya and Krishh, is aware that the hype and the hoopla surrounding Kites is something else. Happily, this has translated into business for him, and the worldwide rights of Kites have apparently been sold for Rs 150 crore. But Rakesh, who accompanied Hrithik and Barbara to the international film festival at Cannes, cannot help feeling as infuriated about the whole thing as he is excited.

Were the steamy scenes in Kites added to woo the international audience?

There will be two versions of Kites, one for the Indian market and the other for the international. To assume we added steamy scenes to woo an international audience is ridiculous! We’ve just made a film where we have changed the rules. And there is some intimacy between Hrithik and Barbara because they’re playing a couple in love. Hrithik had to kiss Barbara, what else could he do? Sing songs with her like we do in our Hindi movies? It is his job as an actor to do what the filmmaker tells him.

Were you embarrassed watching their intimacy on the sets?

I fail to understand why everyone is asking me this question. It is silly. If as a filmmaker I can watch Hrithik jumping from a five-storey building in Krishh, why should I be uncomfortable watching him do a kiss? It is his character in Kites who is kissing Barbara. It is just a job.

Do you agree that Kites is your most hyped film?

I know there is huge excitement, and expectation, over Kites. I’m not doing anything deliberate to hype the film. We showcased it at the film festival and the international media went gaga over it. I was at Vijay Mallya’s party in Cannes and everyone was curious about Kites. Most western newspapers and magazines have written about Hrithik. For me as a father and a filmmaker, it’s a proud moment.

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