Shah Rukh Khan's Ra.One versus all the other films this October

It’s not all about Ra.One this October, even though it appears so with Shah Rukh Khan promoting the film vigorously; even McDonalds burgers were not spared. You get a mini-SRK dressed up as G.One free with every Happy Meal purchase. There are films releasing every weekend of the month, but it looks like a clean sweep for Ra.One — the big Diwali film of 2011 — as it takes on no one around its release on 26 October. Let’s take a look at the other films that dare to release in and around the big ticket film that could be potential blockbusters: October 6: Rascals Starring: Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn, Arjun Rampal and Kangna Ranaut. There is palpable discontent when it comes to Kangna amid the actors and the producers of the film, but the audience doesn’t care about behind the scene dramas. Rascals is a comedy, David Dhawan style, with the cast bumbling around to elicit laughs. And if it does, they will be laughing all the way to the bank. Even as another controversy lurks around Kangna, with Paris Hilton’s impending India trip, the audience couldn’t be bothered. Directed by: David Dhawan. Watch it factor: Kangna Ranaut’s bikini shots. October 7: Love Breakups Zindagi Starring: An ensemble cast comprising Zayed Khan, Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra, Vaibhav Talwar, Dia Mirza and other actors. The Khan in this film, Zayed, is no superstar, but he’s taken a chance with this romantic comedy, believing in it to the extent of even producing the film in collaboration with Sahara Motion Pictures. Let’s hope some of the Main Hoon Na magic — his biggest hit to date, alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen and Amrita Rao —lends its way into his maiden enterprise. Directed by: Sahil Sangha. Watch it factor: Shah Rukh Khan’s cameo in the film for his friend Zayed and cinematographer Aseem Bajaj’s poetry in motion. October 14: My Friend Pinto Starring: Prateik and Kali Koechlin. It’s about a Goan boy, Pinto’s search for his childhood friend, Sameer in Mumbai, but trouble seems to be more of Pinto’s friend in the process. Directed by: Raghav Dar Watch it factor: The film is produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali Films and UTV Motion Pictures; it has to have something, some substance! October 14: Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge Starring: Saqib Saleem, Saba Azad, Nishant Dahiya and Tara D’Souza. Tara played Ali Zafar’s Brindian girlfriend in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan; the rest of the cast make their debut in this film. The film is about faking someone’s identity on Facebook to make the cut. Mark Zuckerberg may not be too pleased with his logo being messed about with in the film’s poster – it seems to be the “Zuckerberg wala Facebook blue” alright, but no more than that. Directed by: Nupur Asthana Watch it facto_r: The bastardisation of Facebook, Yash Raj style perhaps? October 14: Azaan Starring: Sachiin Joshi, South African model Candice Boucher and Dalip Tahil. Boucher was the cover girl on the April 2010 issue of Playboy, and the sheer, black gown she wore on the Cannes red carpet earlier this year made her Hollywood royalty, if only for 15 minutes. The story of the film is about biological warfare and has an interesting mix of talent from the East and the West. Directed by: Prashant Chadha Watch it factor: No clue… yet even though it was promoted at Cannes heavily this year. October 26: Ra.One [caption id=“attachment_88963” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“There are films releasing every weekend of the month, but it looks like a clean sweep for Ra.One — the big Diwali film of 2011. Raju Shelar/Firstpost”] [/caption] Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal and the magical voice of international singer, Akon crooning Chamak Challo – his first ever Hindi song. Ra.One is Kareena’s second film with SRK as his love interest on celluloid. She has earlier played Princess Kaurwaki to his King Asoka in the Santosh Sivan directed film, Asoka way back in 2001. Around the same time, she starred alongside him in Karan Johar’s ensemble cast film, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), albeit not as a lover. She made a cameo in Farhan Akhtar’s Don (2006) and did a sexy number, Yeh Mera Dil_, with SRK that made the Helen version with Amitabh Bachchan in the original look even better. Kareena had made tall claims around the time that she would outdo the original, but even though there was a smoldering chemistry between SRK and her in the song, it just didn’t top Helen’s moves or grace. She did another song, Marjani with SRK in Priyadarshan’s Billu(2009) and owned it. Directed by: Anubhav Sinha, though many directors have been called upon to lend their expertise to this ambitious film. Watch it factor: A blue-eyed SRK in a tight, superhero costume, saving the world and the smoking haute Chamak Challo, Kareena Kapoor. October 27 : Tell Me O Khuda Starring: The film was earlier scheduled to release on 30 September but was pushed to this date recently. As Hema Malini put it succinctly – “The audience is not going to watch only one film (Ra.One) during Diwali.” Esha Deol, Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Arjan Bajwa, Farooq Sheikh, Deepti Naval, Johny Lever and Madhoo. This film is about Esha’s search for her father, played by Dharmendra. The last time Hema Malini directed a film back in 1992, Dil Aashna Hai, it starred Shah Rukh Khan and the late Divya Bharti, and had a similar premise of Divya looking for her father. Coincidence? Directed by: Hema Malini Watch it factor: Esha Deol’s comeback on screen with daddy Deol, lavishly produced by momma Hema Malini and Salman Khan’s cameo in the film. October 27: Damadamm Starring: Himesh Reshammiya, Sonal Sehgal and Purbi Joshi. The film’s story has been conceived by Himesh and written by him too. It is a multi-talented showcase for the singer turned actor as he plays a harassed boyfriend in the film. Directed by: Swapna Waghmare Watch it factor: Himesh in a new wig, taking on SRK a day after Ra.One’s release.