Barbara Mori & Hrithic Roshan

Producer- Director Rakesh Roshan picks up a little known Hollywood Latin actress, Barbara Mori, for his next film Kites.
Barbara Mori is of Uruguayan, Japanese, and Mexican heritage. She has only one blockbuster film to her credit- La mujer de mi hermano (2005). Mori was invited to modeling by fashion designer Marcos Toledo; she later became a telenovela actress with TV Azteca. The actress has her own lingerie line, and uses her image to support charitable causes such as the fight against breast cancer in Mexico.

Penelope Cruz, Madonna of Madrid, was being considered for the role. She was finally voted out as she supposedly looked older than Hrithik. Model Brunah Abdullah had also been auditioned for the role. She performed an extremely bold item song for Anubhav Sinha’s Cash recently. But even she was dropped.

The casting for Kites is taking place in Mumbai and Los Angeles with the help of Director Anurag Basu. Rakesh Roshan had four names for Holywood actresses in mind. He even talked to their agents. However, they were not able to give him dates. Eventually he zeroed down on Mori. From back home the film will star actress Kangana Ranaut. You will remember Kangana from Gangster and Life in a Metro, which were also Anurag’s successful ventures.

Directer Anurag Basu will have Mori and Hrithik salsa to amazing musical compositions by Rajesh Roshan.

“The girl’s role is extremely bold. We want to show love has no barriers. Actually, we have decided to cast someone international, someone Latin American or Brazilian, because that’s the personality and profile of the leading lady in my film”, says Anurag.

Sonam KapoorRakesh’s first choice was Anil Kapoor’s daughter, Sonam. However, Sonam was dropped since she comes across as a very conservative person. Says Hrithik, “I’d love to work with Sonam. But not on this project. The role doesn’t do justice to her….this would be my first international project.Yes, I am nervous.” Now we get it- why Mori.

Kites is to be shot in New Mexico, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, scheduled to go into production by the end of July 2008