Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 22, 2016)

Rajinikanth’s much-awaited sequel to Robot, 2.0, which stars Akshay Kumar will see the latter get top billing pan-India across the film’s posters, teasers, trailers and other promotional material alongside Rajini’s own name.

This is unusual for a Rajinikanth-starrer, where all other actors barring him, get lower billing.

Says a source very close to the film, “The thing is, the producers of 2.0 hope to sell the film to the Hindi belt on the basis of AK’s presence there. For all his iconic status, Rajini’s films don’t work in North India. With Akshay Kumar playing the villain against Rajnikanth, the makers of 2.0 hope to make a killing in both the Hindi and non-Hindi markets. Hence the film will be marketed as a two-hero film all across the country.”