Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 10, 2018)

Given the hype around the release of 2.0 in an industry witnessing increased piracy, makers of the sci-fi are taking several measures to minimize chances of a leak. As news of the Rajinikanth starrer being deferred from its April 27 release date trickles in, mid-day has learnt that the assorted post-production work — linked to a security measure — is to blame.

A source says, “The VFX and CGI work on 2.0 is happening across at least three studios, between two continents. This is to avoid the possibility of a leak. The final patchwork is simultaneously taking place at Los Angeles. All the material is scattered, and is currently a mess. Thus, getting it together may take longer than expected.” The source further adds, “Given that the film has been mounted on a big scale, the makers do not want to compromise on quality to meet deadlines.”

2.0, also featuring Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson, was initially slated for a January 26 release. While it was then pushed to April, sources suggest it may now hit the marquee on the first weekend of May.

The superstar’s Diwali release, Kaala, featuring Nana Patekar, has now apparently been pulled in to release in April. The development is being seen as an attempt by Lyca Productions — backing both the films — to bank on the Tamil New Year holiday in April with a Rajini release.

In a statement, the Thalaiva said, “Some CGI work [on 2.0] is pending and the post-production team is working hard to deliver a quality product. We will know the exact release date in two to three days.”