Mumbai: BIG Pictures has acquired the worldwide marketing & distribution rights of Hrithik Roshan starrer Kites. The film is being readied for a Diwali release.
Talks were on between the two parties even before the movie went on floors and the deal was verbally locked in by Rakesh Roshan with BIG, but the formalization has come about now.
Roshan was also in negotiations with various other distributors including BIG and the price quoted for the movie’s rights by Roshan escalated from Rs 1 billion (Rs 100 crores) to Rs 1.20 billion (Rs 120 crores) at that time.
However, taking into account, the scenario of financial crunch and viability and potential of the maximum business a movie can generate, the deal has been renegotiated for a price range little over Rs 1 billion, sources inform.
When contacted by Businessofcinema.com, both Roshan and Reliance Entertainment chairman Amit Khanna declined to comment on the acquisition price of the movie.
Pertinent to note here is that, Hrithik Roshan also had a three film deal with Adlabs previously for Rs 300 million (Rs 30 crores). However, when other actors raised their prices that were higher than this, Roshan returned that amount to Adlabs.
Kites’ shooting will be wrapped in March and the film will release in Diwali. Kites commenced shooting in the US with a two month schedule in July 2008, during which the unit shot in New Mexico, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Since third week of December, the unit has been shooting in Mumbai for filming indoor scenes.
Kites is a romantic thriller being directed by Anurag Basu. Apart from Hrithik, who plays the male lead in the film, the movie stars Mexican actress Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi. The film will have music by Rajesh Roshan.
Filmkraft Productions chairman Rakesh Roshan said, "This is the biggest film to come out of India ever, and a film targeted at both Indian as well as world audiences. We believe that Reliance Big Entertainment will leverage its marketing machinery and distribution platforms to take this film to the widest possible audience the world over."
Reliance Big Entertainment President Rajesh Sawhney added, "Kites will have the widest ever release for an Indian film. Partnering with the visionary producer-director, Rakesh Roshan, is a landmark achievement in our endeavor to create India’s dominant filmed entertainment company."
