Hrithik, Barbara head for Cannes to promote 'Kites'

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan is set to attend the special screening of his much-talked about film 'Kites' with co-star Barbara Mori, said his father Rakesh Roshan who also added that he will project the movie as his production house's first truly international product.

Director Anurag Basu will also be there with them at 62nd Cannes Film Festival that opened Wednesday.

'Yes Hrithik, Anurag, representatives from Big Pictures and I will be in Cannes. Barbara Mori will be joining us from Mexico. We'll be screening a specially-prepared trailer of 'Kites' on May 15th. Then on May 16th we'll screen the film at Cannes for international buyers.'

So far Rakesh Roshan's productions including 'Koi... Mil Gaya' (2003) and 'Krrish' (2006) have been very desi in their appeal. 'Kites' is being taken to an international audience and Cannes is the first stop, therefore very important.

'We hope to pitch 'Kites' as our production house's first truly international product. Cannes is a very important venue for international cinema. That's why we've made sure to complete the film in time. Anurag and I have been working against time to do do, but we've managed,' said Rakesh Roshan.

Rakesh Roshan says that his visit to Cannes with the film 'Kites' has nothing to do with the current producers-multiplex deadlock.

'Why should the strike in the multiplexes affect our visit to Cannes? We aren't breaking any of conditions laid down during the strike. We're not screening our film publicly or for media at Cannes. This is a screening only for potential buyers from the West,' he said.

The 'Kites' team is scheduled to reach Cannes Thursday and will leave Sunday. They'll be staying at The Martinez in Cannes.