Khan saves the world, starting with Dubai

The leading Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is coming to Dubai on October 24 for the premiere of his latest movie, Ra.One.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan speaks with the media after arriving at the international airport in Mumbai February 6, 2010. Bollywood is jittery over the fate of "My Name Is Khan", one of its biggest films of the year, with lead actor Shah Rukh Khan facing the ire of the Shiv Sena. The hardline Hindu group has threatened to disrupt Mumbai screenings of the film, which will be released February 12, if Khan does not apologise for backing the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League. REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe (INDIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS SOCIETY) *** Local Caption ***  DEL14_BOLLYWOOD-_0206_11.JPG
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DUBAI // Fans of the Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan will have a chance to meet the actor when he visits Dubai this month for the world premiere of his new superhero action movie.

One of India's most popular actors, Khan will be in Dubai on October 24 for the premiere of his movie, Ra.One.

He will also hold a charity auction dinner open to the public, organisers said yesterday. The film will be released to the rest of the world two days later.

"Shah Rukh has a huge fan following in Dubai, not just among the Asian community but among UAE nationals and other Arabs who would love to meet him," said Rashid Saeed, the managing director of Dubai's Essar Events, which is organising Khan's visit.

"We naturally expect big crowds and have arranged for adequate security. The UAE is full of movie buffs who love Shah Rukh, and he is looking forward to meeting his fans in this part of the world."

Khan, 45, will hold a press conference on October 24, followed by an invitation-only premiere at Grand Cineplex and a charity auction dinner at the Grand Hyatt hotel for the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre.

Details of the ticket prices for the charity dinner and the memorabilia for sale will be available this week.

Khan's followers can also send e-mails to essarevents@hotmail.com for more information.

A spokesman for Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre confirmed it would receive proceeds from the auction. The centre provides treatment for children with special needs.

Ra.One has been billed as the most expensive Bollywood film, with a budget of 1.5 billion rupees (Dh111.8 million). Khan stars as a superhero whose main weapon is his ability to shoot supercharged bolts of electricity.

Movie trailers show Khan in a fitted black, silver and blue costume, with electricity crackling around his right arm.

The hero, G.One, or the "Good one" leaps, bounds, flies faster than a train, and shares a bond with a boy who is an ace video game player.

The movie centres on G.One's fight to save the world from the villain Ra.One, played by the Indian actor Arjun Rampal.