Akshay Kumar's 'Padman' and '2.0' to clash on Republic Day 2018 weekend

Akshay Kumar has reigned over recent Republic Day weekends with Baby (2015) and Airlift (2016). Come R-Day 2018 and it will be a double bonanza for Kumar fans. While his magnum opus 2.0 with superstar Rajinikanth was already slated for January 25 release, now, Padman too has booked the same weekend.

Akshay Kumar in Padman

Kumar announced yesterday that the R Balki-directed film, which was slated for an April 13 release, will hit screens on January 26. The move caused ripples in the industry, with many wondering if clashing with the Rajinikanth-starrer was a wise idea. After all, the Shankar-directed tri-lingual (Tamil, Telugu and Hindi) has generated tremendous hype since its inception - be it over the coming together of Rajini and Kumar or over its extravagant budget. Said to be made on a budget of R450 crore, 2.0 is touted to be the most expensive film made in India.

Also read: Inside pics: Karan Johar hosts Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar's '2.0' music launch in Dubai

Akshay Kumar in 2.0

However, insiders suggest that Kumar had a word with the South sensation during the music launch of 2.0 in Dubai regarding the box-office clash. It's only after Rajini gave him the go-ahead that he announced the release date.

Also read: It's a full house with Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham

Rajnikanth