New Delhi, May 17 (IANS): The countdown has begun and the ticket windows are already buzzing with advance bookings for Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori-starrer "Kites" that releases Friday.

Produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Anurag Basu, "Kites" is a mega-budget venture worth Rs.150 crore in two versions - English and Hindi. It also stars Kabir Bedi and Kangana Ranaut who makes a cameo appearance in the movie.

Releasing simultaneously on more than 2,300 screens worldwide including over 500 overseas in over 60 countries, it has been distributed by Reliance Big Pictures.

Following a phased release pattern, "Kites" will first release in India, the US, Britain, UAE, Australia, South Africa and 30 other countries Friday while in the second phase, it will release in an additional 30 countries, which include various non-traditional markets.

"It's a very strange love story between two people because they don't understand each other's language or culture but as they say love and music doesn't need any language, 'Kites' is just that," Basu told IANS.

Shot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe, "Kites" is a compelling romantic saga that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures. A love story about an Indian man's affair with a Latin woman and their predicament as they don't understand each other's language, "Kites" is about their thrilling journey filled with precious moments and unexpected betrayal.

The story starts in a harsh terrain of the Mexican desert where a mortally wounded man Jai is left to die in the heat of the scorching sun. Once a street smart, carefree young guy, he is now a wanted man.

As death looms, the only thing that keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha - a woman betrothed to another man. Jay and Natasha fell in love despite language and cultural barriers and embark on an action-packed adventure of love, dance and danger across Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Mexico - an adventure that could kill them both, or bring them together forever.

The English version of the movie "Kites: The Remix" is presented and reworked by well known Hollywood director Brett Ratner, as per western sensibilities. It is releasing May 28.

Basu says both versions are however the same.

"Indian and international versions both are very similar. There's just the length issue as the international version is little shorter otherwise both are very much the same," said Basu.

"The Hindi version is a little over two hours (130 minutes) and the English version is one hour thirty minutes," he added.

Not many know that "Kites" was not the final title of the movie.

"I have used 'Kites' as a metaphor in the film. Kites are like two lovers who fly against the wind and not with the wind, they come close and separate and how their destinies are not in their hands," he said.

"However, we used 'Kites' as the working title for the film but when we got positive reactions from various people we kept it as the final one," he added.

"Kites" had its share of controversies too like delay in release, rumours of a link-up between Hrithik and Barbara, intimate scenes between the two in the movie, climax leak rumours and creative differences between Basu and Rakesh Roshan.

"It's all made up and cooked by media... Whatever news has come about 'Kites', most of it has actually been fictional stories," said Basu.

With music composed by his uncle Rajesh Roshan, the movie also marks the singing debut of Hrithik for the title track, which has already been accepted and appreciated both by audiences and critics alike.

The movie has also had a US premiere May 16 which will be followed by another in Britain Tuesday.

With no other Bollywood release to challenge it and the unprecedented buzz it has gathered, this one just might become the first big hit of 2010.