Source: Dayafter
Date: May, 2010
By: Srabanti Chakrabarti
The kind of pre-release publicity that Kites has got is unprecedented. Through out the making of the film, it has been in news. Be it for the exotic locales that it shot in, or the blow hot blow relation of the leading pair – Hrithik and Barbara Mori – the movie has never been out of the tabloids. On the eve of the release of the multi-starrer, high budget film, Hrithik Roshan spoke to The Dayafter Correspondent Srabanti Chakrabarti about the movie, his future, his nervousness and a lot more.
The Dayafter: There is a close to three year gap since your last release Jodhaa Akbar. Why such a long gap?
The gap was largely due to medical reasons. For the last two and a half years, every day I spent three hours to take care of my knees. I used Chinese therapy and went to Finland to apply some local medicines too. Thank god now I am completely cured. Medical science prohibited me from working and told me that you can’t be active as an actor if you do not take rest and take care of your knees. I was not ready to compromise and thus started thinking of different options like turning into a director. At that time I was doing the last schedule of Jodhaa Akbar. When it get over, I took a break of six months. One day Papa came and told me about Kites. The script and storyline really inspired me to get back to be healthy and work fast. After hearing the script, my first reaction was to go back to my room, hug Sussanne (wife) and tell her that we must start working on this film.
DA: Who was your strongest support during the knee problem phase?
Honestly speaking, no one can help you. It is your own battle which you have to win. Your family loves you, support you but these don’t heal the pain. I was in a stage of depression for six months. We all have our own struggles. My perseverance, search for perfection and my patience helped me comeback.
DA: Did this long gap worry you about your future plans?
Not at all. Even before Krrish, there was a two-year gap. I want to do things at my own pace. Every creative person has his freedom to do things in his own pace. If you do not allow that, creativity will suffer. Kites was ready for release last year, but Brett Ratner wanted the English version to be released as well. It would be a foolish decision to say No, so we decided to wait for a few more months. That is how, the break got extended. But let me assure my fans that this year there will be two releases of mine -- Kites and Gujarish. Zoya Akhtar’s film will also be ready by the end of 2010. So, in a span of one year, there should be three releases of mine!
DA: Do you feel that Kites will create an impact on the international market?
Every film has got its own destiny. When Krrish was made, people believed that a super hero film cannot be successful in Hindi. An Indian hero with a mask and flying high through sky scrapers was not believable. But my dad and I believed in the concept, raised the standard of quality and created a successful film. Similarly, for Kites, Anurag Basu’s, my father’s and my instincts converged and we made this film. We have made an honest film. Dhoom was an honest film. It was mixture of fun, action and lots of masala. Come to the theatre, eat your popcorn, have a blast and go home. In Kites it’s a slice of life which is real and intense, unlike Dhoom.
DA: What is special about your performance in Kites?
Before Koi Mil Gaya, all my roles were reference based – I had to see someone and then try to act like him. From Koi Mil Gaya, slowly but steadily, I tried to create my individuality. I always used to try to give shots that would make me feel – ‘Wow! This was unbelievable.’ Over the years and through films like Lakshya, Dhoom and Jodha Akbar, I tried to reach that level. With Kites I feel I have reached that place where every shot I gave for the movie made me happy.
DA: Is it true that your dad and you had creative differences with Anurag Basu?
If you don’t have differences between a producer, actor and director, it means just one person is thinking and the rest are puppets! We had arguments and discussions, but it was always for the betterment of the film. My dad and I don’t work with egos. It’s not about my thoughts or his thoughts – it is about what is best for the film. Only that will be allowed.
DA: Barbara Mori and you have been in the news for all sorts of reasons. How was it working with her?
It was an enlightening experience. Barbara has come from a different part of the world and that taught me a number of things. I had to ask myself the questions which never been asked to me as an actor. Questions like why do you break for dance and music whenever you fall in love in an Indian film? Why can’t the protagonist sing the song instead of a playback? And so on. I think these questions and her creative suggestions helped all of us.