Rajinikanth vs Kamal Haasan on April 27?

Their films 2.0 and Vishwaroopam 2 may release on the same day, reports Subhash K Jha.

Even as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan prepare for Phase 2 of their rivalry by competing in the political arena, Phase 1 has reared its head at the box office.

Rajini and Kamal are likely to lock horns on April 27 when Shankar's 2.0 featuring Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar is already slotted.

According to sources in the know, Kamal, who is working round the clock to complete Vishawaroopam 2, had hoped to release his film in the first week of April.

"But he won't be ready by the first week, so he is looking at the last week of April. If Rajnikanth's 2.0 also releases on 27 April, so be it, can't be helped," the source adds.

2.0 won't only have to deal with Vishwaroopam 2, but also with Krish's Manikarnika and the Prabhas starrer Saho, directed by Sujeeth, the new kid on the Telugu block.

All three films are in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages, following the success of Baahubali The Conclusion.

IMAGE: Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan at the birth anniversary celebrations of thespian Sivaji Ganesan in Chennai, October 1, 2017. Photograph: PTI Photo