Rakesh Roshan's big deal

Rakesh Roshan has sold Kites, starring Hrithik and Barbara Mori, for Rs 120 crore. So why did he crib about shelling out Rs 2 crore to composer Ram Sampat?

Rakesh Roshan might have lost on a few crores in the Ram Sampat copyright controversy just before his film Krazzy 4 hit the marquee.

But the tight-fisted Roshan needn’t mope about the loss.
It is learnt that the filmmaker has struck a deal to end all deals.

Roshan has sold the rights for his next production Kites, directed by Anurag Basu, to Eros International for a whopping Rs 120 crore.

The film stars Hrithik Roshan with US-based model-actress Barbara Mori besides Kangana Ranaut.

A khabru says, “Rakesh Roshan is ecstatic. He has managed to sell Kites even before it hits the floors.

The amount is the highest-ever a movie has got till date.

The price has been pushed up because Hrithik has no other film lined up for release until Kites releases early next year.

Roshan Sr has received a token signing amount of Rs 10 crore and the rest will be paid as the shooting progresses.”

Roshan, who is back in Mumbai after location hunting in the US for Kites says, “No deal has been done.” But the khabru insists, “The filmmaker and Eros International do not want the deal to be publicised at this stage as it is too early.”

Keeping the money rolling
Om Shanti Om – Rs 75 crore (Eros bought the world rights from Red Chillies Entertainment)

Welcome – Rs 34 crore (UTV bought the world rights from Base Industries and later Studio 18 bought it for Rs 45 crore from UTV)

Singh Is Kinng – Rs 56 crore (Studio 18 bought the world rights from Blockbuster Movie Entertainers)

Race and Kismet Konnection – Rs 91 crore (UTV bought the world rights from Tips)

Heroes and Tere Sang – Rs 33 crore (Eros International bought the world rights from Bharat Shah)