Anurag Basu and his producer Rakesh Roshan don’t see eye-to-eye on Kites, so much so that the director says he has no inkling when ‘Kites’ is releasing. Says Anurag, “I’m just a technician on the film, just like the cinematographer or editor. I know as much as any one else who has worked on Kites.
But I’ve heard the film is being released on 14 May or 21 May, I don’t which date it actually is. But I’m happy it’s finally being released.”
For the first time Anurag Basu openly admits there were differences with producer Rakesh Roshan. “I wouldn’t call them creative differences. Because we were both creating the same film and moving in the same direction. But yes, Rakeshji’s vision of cinema is quite different from mine.” There were constant arguments between the producer and director about how the film was to be shot.
Explains Anurag, “See, Rakeshji was not just the producer of ‘Kites’. He’s also a very big director with a vast experience as filmmaker behind him. He naturally had very strong opinions on how the film should be shot.” Anurag has learnt the hard way never to make a film for a producer who’s also a director. “It’s all fine now. Over and done with. I just hope all the hard work is worth the effort.”
‘Kites’ was taken away from Anurag and given to Hollywood director Brett Ratner to be edited. Anurag was none too pleased with the unexpected shift of power in the creative equation. Significantly, Anurag doesn’t feature in any of the publicity and marketing of Kites.
Says the director, “I still maintain I had no creative differences with Rakesh Roshanji. When I didn’t have any hesitation in walking out of my first directorial venture ‘Kuch To Hai’ when I had differences with my producer Ekta Kapoor why would I not do the same with ‘Kites’ if necessary, when I’ve proved myself as a director with ‘Gangster’ and ‘Life…In A Metro’.”
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