Kites and Rajneeti are seen by the film trade as the two most crucial releases in the remaining part of the first-half of 2010.
The two films’ producers Rakesh Roshan and Prakash Jha are currently the two closest friends in the film industry, so much so that Jha decided to shift the release of Raajneeti from May 28 to June 4 on Rakesh Roshan’s advice.
Rakesh Roshan’s Kites (directed by Anurag Basu) is being released on 21 May.
Explains Prakash, “Both Rakeshji and I felt there should be clear gap of two weeks between Kites and Raajneeti. Earlier I was to come just a week after.
But in the case of a big film llike Kites the multiplex theatres don’t know till Wednesday if they would like to change films on Friday. I wanted to avoid the scheduling confusion.
I sat down with Rakeshji and we decided it was better that I postpone by a week because there’s no big release after Raajneeti until Mani Ratnam’s Raavan. ”
Adds Rakesh Roshan, “I think more filmmakers need to work in close consultation to avoid films overlapping and cutting into one another’s market. Prakash Jha and I have been discussing each other release. And we mutually decided he should release a fortnight after my film. ”
What happens to the release of Raajneeti if Kites gets postponed again?
Rakesh Roshan discounts that possibility. “We can’t postpone the 21 May release because the English version is being released simultaneously. ”
What if Kites becomes a big hit? Would that affect Raajneeti’s opening?
“No way!” says Prakash Jha. “Kites is a love story. Raajneeti is a political drama. ”
One point of similarity between the two films is that the leading men of both films are paired opposite Caucasian heroines. Hrithik Roshan shares screen space with Barbara Mori while Ranbir Kapoor ignites the screen with Sarah Thomson.
While Rakesh Roshan insists there’s no sex in Kites, Prakash Jha says Ranbir and Sarah share torrid moments in Raajneeti.
Says Rakesh, “Ours is a clean family entertainer. It’s a love story with no sex in it. When have I ever produced films with torrid sex scenes?”
Ace Indian choreographer Sandeep Soparrkar wants to once and for all put to rest rumours about his alleged affair with Britney Spears and says he is too much in love with his partner Jesse Randhawa to even think of dating the American pop star.
"I don't want to talk much about it as I am already in the news for the wrong reasons, but I want to make one thing clear that I am not dating Britney Spears," Soparrkar told IANS over telephone from Mumbai.
Just a few months ago, the international media was abuzz with the news that Spears is dating Soparrkar. Media reports had said that the two met at Madonna's party, hit it off immediately and later Spears came to India to spend time with him.
"I am very much in love with my partner Jesse Randhawa. I enjoy dancing with her. Whenever I dance with her, it gives me a feeling of closeness and pleasure," he added.
Soparrkar specialises in Latin American ballroom dancing and says the attitude of Indians towards this dance form is changing and people are now taking it seriously.
"People are becoming aware about treating dance as a career option and those who are serious know how to go about it. Dance is not a hobby any more and many study dance as their subject," he said.
"The most important thing is to understand and learn dance; only then can you excel in classes. There are people who are born with some dancing skills, but it is something that can be learnt over a period of years," he added.
While many have taken to learning western dances like salsa, Latino, rumba and cha-cha-cha, Soparrkar feels that the popularity of Bollywood dances overshadow these elegant dance forms.
"Bollywood dancing is the weirdest dance form and it can be learnt as a hobby. All those moves look good on screen and they are fun. Bollywood has a major influence on our everyday life and people love to imitate the moves of a popular song, but it isn't a serious dance form," the dancer said.
While Bollywood actors like Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapur have become a rage for their dancing skills, Soparrkar's personal favourite is Govinda, who according to him is a carefree and energetic dancer.
"He dances so beautifully and his effortless moves and great expressions make him a treat to watch. He dances from the heart and you can see the pleasure dancing gives him," he said.
Although he finds Bollywood dance weird, Soparrkar will be choreographing for three movies - "Raftar 24x7", "Cyclone" and "Phir Kabhi", which features Dimple Kapadia and Mithun Chakraborty.
"I'm not going to follow the Bollywood style. It will be a completely different form of dancing," he said.
Soparrkar made his debut on the small screen last year with music reality show "Chak De Shehar Di Kudiyan Te Galli De Gunde". This year too the salsa expert is one of the judges on new reality TV series "CBF Stunner 10" on UTV Bindaas.
The show, aired every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., aims to spread awareness about safe biking amongst youngsters.
"The competition takes care of your overall personality and it is not just a show. It is a platform that prepares young aspirants to achieve their goal. We are just a guiding factor to help teach them basic things that will help them in the long run," Soparrkar said.
It is no news when Harman Baweja is compared to Hrithik Roshan. The latest is that Harman's dance number in his forthcoming Victory and Hrithik's song in Luck By Chance are said to be similar. So not only will the actors clash at the box office but will also be compared for their dance numbers in the film.
Hrithik is doing a special appearance in a song number in Zoya Akhtar's Luck By Chance and that too in a dance number. The song has been shot in circus sequence. Hrithik has already made it to the top. While Hrithik is said to be the best dancer in Bollywood. The film is being directed by debutant director Zoya Akhtar.
While Harman Baweja is no less, when compared to his dancing capabilities. The actor it is said has already garnered a lot of interest with his two song numbers in the film. 'balla utha chaka laga' has been the most downloaded song number where as 'money money' has also garnered a lot of publicity. This will be Harman's second film and he is at the moment keeping all fingers crossed for the success. The film is being directed by debutant director Ajitpal Mangat.
