Shankar’s 2.0, starring South legend Rajinikanth (who now goes as Rajini) and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, whose Hindi version was released by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, had a big opening yesterday. The sci-fi thriller made a handsome Rs. 20.25 crore at the box office. This, Bollywood trade pundits are saying, is a “massive figure” for a dubbed in Hindi film that dared to open on a non-holiday Thursday.
It is also encouraging news for Bollywood which is still to get over the box office shock that YRF’s fantasy adventure Thugs of Hindostan fared during Diwali. All the more because 2.0 had low-key promotions and the only redeeming feature was Rajini, Akshay and Shankar attending a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday.
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Akshay Kumar with Rajinikanth[/caption]
Bollywood trade analyst and film critic Taran Adarsh, whom the industry follows closely, set the ball rolling for 2.0 when he gave the film five stars in his review. Said Taran on Twitter, “2.0 is a cinematic marvel. This has style with substance. Director Shankar is a visionary. He hits the ball out of the park this time. Akshay Kumar is fantastic. While Rajnikanth is the Boss. Salute!”
https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1068023059087413248
The Rajini-Akshay starrer has taken the highest opening of 2018 so far beating Thugs of Hindostan that collected Rs, 52 crore in all versions by opening on Diwali. The total Indian collection of 2.0 (all versions) for Day One was around Rs. 73.5 crore. Adding to his five-star review, Taran Adarsh said, “The opening is very good. Please note it opened on a Thursday and still managed to break records despite advance booking opening late.”
https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1068418506868219904
