A R Rahman + Usher + Dido = New Project?

After his huge global musical success with Slumdog Millionaire, AR Rahman has been pursued by big Western pop stars for collaborations. Back in June Rahman announced at the UK Press conference during the Lebara ‘Jai Ho – AR Rahman Journey Home’ World Tour 2010 that he will be collaborating with US R&B starUsher and Brit-Pop sensation Dido on his next album. But now A R Rahman says that contrary to reports, he will not be collaborating with U&B star Usher and pop singer Dido for his next album, but for a different project.

“I will be collaborating with Usher and Dido but it is not for my next album, as everyone is saying. It is for some other project, the details of which I can’t reveal yet,” Rahman said from London. “I’m concentrating on my world tour right now, and my work on the collaboration will start after it is over,” added the composer, who is rehearsing for his European performances in London.

Rahman, who shone on the global arena with his work in Slumdog Millionaire that fetched him double Oscars, says he has put his Hollywood ventures on hold for the time being. American record label, Interscope Records, owned by Universal Music Group, that has artists like Black Eyed Peas, Dr Dre, Emninem, Lady Gaga, Limp Bizkit and U2, signed to the label, recently signed Rahman for an international music album. “The work is progressing really slowly,” he said. “I can’t confirm who’ll be working with me, as of now, but talks are on with several musicians for the same,” he added.

It’s not just Rahman who has a musical mind in his family; son Ameen is also showing signs of his father’s talent. The six-year-old sang a song in the Hollywood film, Couples Retreat. So will Rahman encourage his son to get into the industry? “Right now, we can’t say anything. He is too young. It all depends on the situation when he grows up,” said the ace composer.

Rahman has been dubbed the “Best selling composer on the planet” by The Telegraph, the “Mozart of Madras” by the Time Magazine and the Daily Telegraph says, “There is a special quality in those sinuous tunes, a kind of primal innocence that would melt even the sternest sceptic.”

The ‘Jai Ho – AR Rahman Journey Home’ World Tour 2010 will be pulling out all the stops to make sure it is a stage extravaganza. AR Rahman fans will be treated to the songs that have taken him to the very pinnacle of the music industry, including smash hits from ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ as well as legendary Indian Films such as ‘Lagaan’,‘ Jodha Akbar’ , Roja, ‘Ghajini’, Yuvraaj’, ‘Bombay’ and ‘Rangeela’.