Rajinikanth, Please Note. Karan Johar Wants a Piece of Your 2.0

Mumbai: Karan Johar wears many hats. As a director, actor, reality show judge, mentor, designer, anchor and columnist the many aspects of entertainment keep Johar engaged. Karan, however, remains deeply rooted to the business aspect of films. In 2016 alone, Karan's Dharma Productions have produced films like Kapoor And Sons, Baar Baar Dekho and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. He has co-produced Dear Zindagi, slated for a November 25th release, while Ok Jaanu and Badrinath Ki Dulhania are also on his list. But this story isn't about Karan the producer we look instead at Karan the distributor. After successfully distributing S S Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali in 2015, Karan now appears to be interested in Rajinikanth's Enthiran sequel, 2.0.

The work on 2.0, one of the most awaited films of 2017, may be far from over but Karan's pitch to the filmmakers has already begun.

When asked about the distribution rights for the film at the launch of the first look of 2.0 in Mumbai on Sunday, Karan was quick to raise his hand. "Why do you think I am here anchoring the first look launch?," he quipped. "The teaser was step 1.0 and the distribution rights is my step 2.0 for the film," Karan added.

The Hindi version of Prabhas and Rana Daggubati's Baahubali earned Rs 120 crores at the box office, after releasing on July 10, 2015. Rajnikanth and Akshay Kumar's 2.0 has a much wider reach among the Hindi speaking audience and that is perhaps what's attracting Karan and Dharma productions to the Shankar directed film. Rajnikanth, however, is known to be loyal to his old distributors. Will he stick with Tolu Bajaj - the man who distributed Robot in 2010 - or does Karan's inclusion into the fold means new ties are being forged? We'll know soon enough.

Rajinikanth and his 2.0 co-stars, Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson, launched the first look of the sci-fi drama at a glittering event in Mumbai. Shah Rukh Khan and Kamal Haasan were reportedly invited but while they didn't attend, Salman Khan did.
 Meanwhile, meet Akshay Kumar as mad scientist Dr Richard from 2.0:
 

Evil has a new face! #2Point0 #3Diwali2017 #2Point0FLLaunch pic.twitter.com/k33uwU6eg2

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) November 20, 2016

2.0 was generous enough to share more posters:
 

And the BATTLE begins! Get set for a #3Diwali2017 with #2Point0! #2Point0FLLaunch pic.twitter.com/p9vVOdv2Sv

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) November 20, 2016

 

pic.twitter.com/IAUxuPBNTV

— Shankar Shanmugham (@shankarshanmugh) November 20, 2016

Directed by Shankar, 2.0 is scheduled for Diwali 2017.