New York rolls out red carpet welcome for Kites

Kites, one of the year's most anticipated Bollywood movie had its US premiere in New York on Sunday.

The movie starring Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori and Kangna Ranaut was screened at the AMC Empire in Times Square.

After the US premiere, Kites will be screened in London at Odean West End on May 18. The movie is slated for world wide release on May 21.

Also check out this video of the stars at the red carpet.

Hrithik Roshan

There are two versions of Kites -- Hindi and English. The Hindi version will be released on May 21, while the shorter English version, edited by Brett Ratner, will hit screens on May 28.

Also see: Hrithik greets his NY fans

Keen to take the love story between an Indian man and a Latin woman to the world, the lead pair -- Hrithik and Barbara -- along with Rakesh Roshan, producer of the film, Anurag Basu (director) and Rajesh Roshan, went on a two-day promotion tour.

Reliance Big Pictures is distributing the movie.

Buzz is already high for the film which boasts of non-stop action and sizzling chemistry between the lead pair, which was rumoured to have caused quite a few tense moments between Hrithik and his wife Suzanne.

Judging from Barbara and Suzanne's playful demeanour at Sunday's premiere, however, the rumours seem to be just that -- rumours.

Meanwhile, among those who couldn't wait to watch the film is film maker Karan Johar, who extended his holiday in New York to attend Sunday's premiere.

He told IANS, 'It's a big film for the Roshans who are very close to me and Shah Rukh Khan. The success of Kites is also very important to the film industry. I've a release I Hate Luv Storys coming up in July. And if Kites works, it'd mean favourable things for my films."

Also spotted at the premiere was Pooja Kumar, a former Miss India USA, veejay and actress.