Shahrukh Khan’s Ra.One creates many record in Bollywood before release on October 26, 2011. Ra.One’s television broadcasting rights had been sold to Star India for a record sum of 40 crore (US$8.92 million), surpassing the previous record of 3 Idiots for 33 crore (US$7.36 million). The film’s music rights were bought by T-Series for 15 crore (US$3.35 million) whilst the distribution rights were acquired by Eros Entertainment for 77 crore

Shahrukh Khan is a brand ambassador – yet again. And the latest firm to sign him up is internet giant Google. King Khan has agreed to promote its new social networking site, Google Plus along with his upcoming film RA.One. As part of the tie-up, Shahrukh will join Google Plus and participate in a live chat on the site, using the Hangouts feature over the next couple of weeks.

On its part, Google will promote RA.One through not only Google Plus but also through YouTube – with behind the scenes videos, streaming of the premiere and other events across the globe, and various contests. In fact, a first-of-its-kind video about RA.One is already up on YouTube. Shahrukh is reportedly very excited about getting a chance to create a platform where his fans from all over the world can engage with his film.

Himesh Reshammiya has switched on his daredevilry mode. His next flick Damadamm will clash with SRK’s most ambitious venture RA.One this Diwali.

But the singer is quite confident about his film. “My movie Damadamm is releasing on Diwali with RA.One, which is expected to be the biggest release of this year. But I believe Diwali has a room for everybody. I’m confident about the movie and hope I’m lucky,” said the actor.

Actor Arjun Rampal is very much a part of RA.One. However, it has been reported that the guy isn’t too pleased about not being seen too much while the promos of the mega-budget RA.One have already begun.

When we caught up with the good looking actor, he was quick to rubbish all the rumours. “RA.One is a huge film. Shah Rukh knows what he is doing. Of course, there is a strategy being followed. Don’t worry, I’ll be known to the public pretty soon and in a manner that’ll be beneficial to the movie.

Ask Rampal if he has had enough with these constant rumours of his fight with SRK, and he just laughs. “Well, as long as RA.One is getting all the publicity, it’s best to sit there and not mind.

Film: RA.One
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Lyrics: Atahar Panchi, Vishal Dadlani and Kumaar.

RA.One’s music has been in the news for well over a year. That its music directors, Vishal-Shekhar, were collaborating with Senegalese pop artiste Akon for a couple of songs ensured expectations were high.

Chammak Challo…which Akon sings in Hindi both capably and with feeling. The funny part of this large-than-life East-meets-West crossover piece is that Akon’s articulation is better than many Hindi singers around. Vishal-Shekhar have come up with a infectious piece that’s good to dance to and sing out loud.

Bhare Naina… starts like a Gregorian Chants number, but changes into a dark, slow-paced and distortion-laden piece. Although Nandini Shrikar is a talented singer and exercises mastery over the vocals, the rest of the song just can’t keep up with her voice.

Dildara…a desi take on Ben E King’s Stand By Me… is over before you know (it’s 1.5 minutes in length) and Right By Your Side… that features indie vocalist Siddharth Coutto is a bit overzealous in its attempt to be peppy. Akon’s second collaboration in the album is the more traditionally arranged Criminal… that has a more clichéd rhythm.

Raftaarein… mixes suspense with Wild West surprising well. Its street-band percussion is perfectly in sync with the electronic beats, and sounds innovative. A dance remix of the number could have made sense but the music directors only decided to do remixes of Akon’s tracks.

RA.One’s soundtrack has its moments of charm. When it’s good, as with Chammak Challo… and the chase-sequence like Raftaarein…, it’s pretty good. And when it’s bad, it’s passable. Take from that what you will.

B-town acknowledges and appreciates the marketing genius of King Khan. For his upcoming super-ambitious home production, RA.One, SRK has charted a strategy that has ensured that his film makes money from all possible sources. He has tied up with a fast food chain, there is merchandise that will be sold; the music of the film is already a whammy of sorts, thanks to Akon’s ‘Chammak challo’ song. Shahrukh has been telling everyone that RA.One will be a benchmark as far as superhero films in Bollywood are concerned. What really surprised us about that ambitious statement is that Krrish 3 has already broken all records in its selling price, reportedly an astronomical Rs37 crore for just the satellite rights, with Rakesh Roshan selling each territory to different distributors (not selling the film outright to one corporate house) and making a pile in the bargain.

All this, even before the shooting of the film has begun. This is a first for Bollywood and puts Hrithik Roshan way ahead of the Badshah of Bollywood. The Roshans get brownie points for their superhero film because they will be shooting it in 2D which will be later converted to 3D; RA.One was shot uni-dimensionally and will be converted to 3D, which is nowhere close to the real deal. For now, we are excitedly waiting for Diwali, when RA.One will finally hit the big screen.

Arjun Rampal is grateful to superstar Shah Rukh Khan for choosing him to play the villain`s role in his dream project `RA.One` slated for a Diwali release.

“The day I heard the script of the movie, I instantly wanted to do the film. Shah Rukh has worked for over three years on this dream project and I am very glad he considered me for the role of Ra.One!” Arjun told friend, actress Preity Zinta on her chat show “Up, Close and Personal with PZ”.

There is a fresh surprise for the moviegoers and fans who are eagerly waiting to catch the much-awaited Shahrukh Khan venture ‘Ra.One’.Reportedly, besides Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra, South megastar Rajinikanth has also been signed on for a guest appearance in the Shahrukh-starrer superhero flick.

Insiders have revealed that Rajini, who has just recovered from illness, will be shooting for his cameo at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, on Oct. 4.

Confirming Rajini’s special appearance in SRK’s pet project, a source said, “In the sequence he will deliver his super-hit dialogue from the film Bhasha.”

Talking about what role Rajini will be playing in ‘Ra.One’, an insider disclosed that there will be a scene where Shahrukh will be attacked by rowdies and it is then when the South legend will be making his entry.It’s learnt that at the outset, Rajini’s look-alike was approached for the sequence in question however, later on Shahrukh somehow managed to convince Rajini himself for the cameo in his film.

Everything that King Khan does, makes news. His recently relased Ra.One poster has brought him back into being the hot topic of debate in the B-Town. Four years after he showed his toned body in ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007), Shahrukh Khan is once again seen in a dashing eight-pack abs avatar that seems to be more than impressive.

Surprisingly, this has led to a dispute among the gossipmongers of the industry, who are busy speculating whether his super toned body and sculpted muscles are real or are they the result of SFX?

Inside talks suggest that SRK’s abs, that have been grabbing all the eyeballs, are not real. Ra.One is a sci-fi flick and SRK is playing a superhero in the film. And, Shahrukh too is seen in a savior avatar, like any superhero would- holding Kareena Kapoor in his hands, in the brand new poster.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan, who is working towards convincing the international pop star to do a song for RA.One, has reportedly invited her to the film’s premiere SRK’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment tweeted, “Breaking News: Lady Gaga may attend Ra.One premiere!”

I have been chatting up with her Lady Gaga over a song that I want to do with her and once her manager had said ‘Lady Gaga wants to introduce her audience to you and she wants to be introduced to your audience’. So one understands she believes in pure, simple wonderful business,” Shah Rukh had said earlier at a book launch.