Ra.One hit the big screen as one of Bollywood’s most expensive films of 2011. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the superhero film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Arjun Rampal. It featured high-end VFX and a massive production scale.
But despite its grandeur, it failed to impress audiences at the box office. Over the years, Ra.One has found appreciation on streaming platforms. However, its initial failure deeply affected Sinha.
SRK Announced Ra.One Without Sinha’s Knowledge
In an interview with The Lallantop, Sinha shared how the film came to life. He first thought of the idea in 2005 and began writing it in 2006. He discussed it with Shah Rukh Khan, but nothing was formalised. Then, SRK surprisingly announced the film at a press conference in Berlin without informing him. “Things just happened after that,” Sinha recalled.
Shah Rukh Khan Never Let Budget Be A Concern
Reports suggested that Ra.One had a massive budget, estimated between Rs 90-120 crore. However, Sinha said he never had to stress about money because SRK took care of everything.
“He is above money. He doesn’t care about it at all,” Sinha said. He admitted that he lost control over the film because of its scale. With an international crew, including an Italian cinematographer and an American VFX supervisor, Sinha felt overwhelmed.
“They all knew more about cinema than me. I was completely overwhelmed,” he confessed.
How Akon Joined For A Song In Ra.One
One of the film’s biggest highlights was its music, especially “Chammak Chalo” sung by global icon Akon. Sinha revealed that the music duo Vishal-Shekhar suggested getting Akon on board.
He recalled telling SRK, “Akon chaahiye” (We need Akon), to which the superstar simply replied, “Let me try…”
Abuhav Sinha Says People In Industry Wanted Shah Rukh Khan’s Downfall
Despite its ambition, Ra.One faced harsh criticism upon release. Sinha realised by the second week that the film wasn’t performing as expected. “I was depressed. I reached out to Kishore Lulla in London, and he assured me that he and Shah Rukh would recover their investment,” he said.
But the backlash wasn’t just from audiences. Sinha shared, “I believe that there were people in the film industry who wanted Shah Rukh Khan to fall.”
It was heartbreaking for him when SRK publicly admitted the film had flopped. “I felt like I betrayed the film and his trust. I couldn’t deliver a movie he could be proud of,” Sinha admitted.
Though Ra.One struggled at the box office, but it has since gained a loyal fanbase. Many now call it a film that was ahead of its time. While it may not have been the blockbuster SRK hoped for, its legacy continues to grow.
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