Hrithik, Barbara fly high together post Kites release

Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori starrer Kites grossed over Rs.21 crore on its opening day.

It has become the second highest opening-day grosser after 3 Idiots, its distributor said Saturday.

Kites released with 2,000 screens in India and across 500 screens overseas Friday.

The film that has been distributed by Reliance BIG Pictures is a love story between an Indian guy and a Spanish girl.

Directed by Anurag Basu, the film has been produced by Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan.

Kites has also caught the fancy of the American media, making it perhaps the most reviewed Bollywood film on opening day by so many US critics.

The New York Times considered it "all completely loony, but the stunts are impressive, the photography crisp and the leads so adorably besotted that audiences might as well check their cynicism at the door."

"A lovers on-the-lam blast of pure pulp escapism. Directed by Anurag Basu with a finger in every genre jar, Kites caroms from car chase to shootout, from rain dancing to bank robbing with unflagging energy," it said.

In Times' view Bollywood star "Roshan requires viewing uncut: writhing on the dance floor or just gazing into space, the man was made to drive women crazy, one movie at a time."

Calling it "A romantic adventure!", Los Angeles Times noted "the love story draws from westerns, musicals, film noir, chase thrillers with stunts so preposterous they verge on parody - and it gets away with everything because of Basu's visual bravura and unstinting passion and energy."

While the movie was seen as "An exhilarating escapist entertainment that plays out like a violent and floridly poetic allegory," the two top stars got noticed for their looks.

"Mori has a sultry gorgeousness that at times recalls Ava Gardner. Roshan has the dashing, chiselled looks of a silent movie matinee idol."

To the New York Daily News it was "An engaging Bollywood tale! Melodrama, romance and action are cheerfully jumbled together ."

"You'll get more than your money's worth," said Newsday describing it as "A boldly old-fashioned, I'll-die-without-you, nobly self-sacrificing movie romance. Gorgeously photographed. The story is the stuff Old Hollywood tear-jerkers are made of."

Variety magazine found it "Deliriously entertaining!" The film, it said, "owes more to Hollywood than Bollywood, though director Anurag Basu borrows plenty from both, aiming to give Indian song-and-dance pics the same sort of crossover success Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, did for Asian martial-arts movies."

"Indian star Hrithik Roshan makes a striking international debut in an ambitious Bollywood crossover film. Grand, action-packed love story set amid the garishness of Las Vegas," said The Hollywood Reporter.

"Kites flies! Entertaining and lovely to look at! It works perfectly well on its own terms," said the Film Journal.

"Roshan and Mori are as beautiful as human beings can be, and the love they depict is as high-flown as you'll find in a movie," said the San Franciso Chronicle suggesting, "Go in smirking, but by the time it's over, you'll believe."

Philadelphia Inquirer found it "Preposterously entertaining!" Chicago Newcity called it "a glory of delirium. Anything can, and does, happen. I long for an Amer-Indie movie with the same lunatic verve. As curry-dusted popcorn goes, Kites is savoury distraction."

Kites has become the first film to have 10,000 shows across Indian theatres on its first day Friday.

Produced by Rakesh Roshan's Filmkraft and distributed by Reliance BIG Pictures, Kites has opened in 2,000 screens in India and 500 screens overseas, making it the biggest Indian release so far.

"I am overwhelmed by the response both in India and abroad," said producer Rakesh Roshan in a statement.

Hrithik said: "My dad and I are extremely grateful to Reliance BIG Pictures for the extraordinary release given to Kites worldwide and the tremendous love showered on the film by cinegoers."

The multiplexes are booked till Sunday.

"The advance ticket booking has been extraordinary. We have sold more than 5,500 tickets for the next three days," said Amit Awasthi, senior manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas that is running 33 shows per day with a seating capacity of more than 8,000.

Deepak Taluja, senior Vice President (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas, said: "The advance booking at Fun Cinemas till Sunday for all the properties put together in Delhi is close to 3,500.”

He further says, “We are expecting Kites to run for at least two more weeks."

On May 28, Brett Ratner's pacier version titled Kites: The Remix will be released in 300 screens worldwide.

The popularity of Hrithik Roshan can be assessed from the fact that when the actor had sprinted across 42nd Street in New York to meet his eager fans gathered for the premiere of film Kites, he was proved a real traffic-stopper.

The star had made a dash across the bustling street from the venue of the premiere to eager fans across the road.

Hrithik's considerate gesture towards fans at the premiere created panic for the tense and anxious Kites team.

Shot on location in Las Vegas, Sante Fe and Los Angeles, Kites has two versions -- Hindi and English.

A-list Hollywood director Brett Ratner has worked on the English language version.

Hrithik Roshan promotes Kites.

Barbara Mori promotes Kites.