Rajinikanth: 2.0 will be a bigger hit than Baahubali

The actor, along with the team of 2.0, met the press at Hyderabad ahead of the film's release
Rajinikanth: 2.0 will be a bigger hit than Baahubali

Rajinikanth is confident that his upcoming action-thriller 2.0, a sequel to his 2010 blockbuster, Enthiran/Robot/Robo, slated to be released worldwide on Thursday, will surpass Rajamouli’s Baahubali franchise. Superstar, who addressed the gathering at the pre-release event of 2.0, was all praise for his director, Shankar, and the film.

“We wanted to make Robo in 3D, but it didn't work out. Shankar made up his mind to shoot his next film entirely with a 3D camera, and I wasn't surprised by his decision owing to my past working experiences with him. I believe the magnitude of success the Baahubali franchise received was due to its story and visual splendour. As for 2.0, the film was shot in 3D and has a wonderful story with over 40 per cent of the footage replete with special effects. I'm confident of its success and convinced that it's going to be a bigger hit than Baahubali,” the actor said.

Rajini, content with the hype the film has garnered, said he is enthusiastically awaiting its release. “I feel like I'm a newcomer all over again. I'm eagerly waiting for the film to open in cinemas. It feels exactly the way it did when I made my debut in Apoorva Raagangal (1975),” revealed the 67-year-old actor.

Director Shankar explained how he got the idea of making such a huge film. “The film brings in a lot of relatability and has an emotion that will tug at your heartstrings. I have imagined a group of people who are busy glancing at their mobile phones. A mobile phone has become an important conduit in our lives and it has become an essential thing for us to keep pace with the trends or happenings. 2.0 has a message that works for everyone on a global stage. The film is an out-and-out action-thriller with a social dimension.”

It took nearly four years to make 2.0, and thousands of technicians have worked diligently to make it a visual extravaganza. The film's makers have failed to meet the deadline several times. Speaking about the delay, Shankar said, “We wanted to release the film last year, but a VFX company failed to keep its promise and we realised that it was difficult for them to work on these complex special effects. So, we hired another reputed company to complete the work and it took several months for things to fall in place.”

The director urges the audience to watch 2.0 in 3D, only in theatres. “The film has been made with a lot of effort to introduce good cinema to our audience. So, to get the best cinematic experience, I request you to watch the film in 3D. Trust me, it's going to be a thrilling experience.”

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who has worked in Hindi cinema for  28 years, said he felt like a student working in this film. “The film has taught me so many things. It was not a film for me; it was a school where I went to study with Shankar as its Principal. In my whole career, I had not learnt as much as I did in this film.”

The Pad Man actor couldn’t thank his director enough. “I thank Shankar for giving me an opportunity to work in this film sharing screen space with the biggest Superstar, Rajinikanth. I have understood that Rajinikanth has a unique way of weaving his magic on people with a small line. I’m playing the baddie and it was an honour getting punched by Rajinikanth,” he added.

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