Salman Khan's "Sultan" and Rajinikanth's "Kabali" arriving on the same day would have been the clash of the decade. Rumour has it, though, that the clash has been avoided.
Team "Kabali" were eyeing to release the film on July 7, but now they have moved it up a week ahead. A source told Bollywood Hungama Salman's film will be dubbed in Tamil and Telegu, which is why the release date of the South Superstar's crime-drama has been rescheduled.
"'Kabali' was locked in for July 7, as an Eid release alongside 'Sultan.' The Kabali team felt Sultan cannot affect the box-office collections of Rajni Sir's film in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh," an insider elaborated.
Interestingly, both films are genres apart and have interesting premises, which means a different set of takers.
This time, Salman will ditch the usual song-dance routine to play Haryana-based wrestler Sultan Ali Khan. Playing his love interest Arfa is Anushka Sharma. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film has Randeep Hooda and Amit Sadh in key roles.
Rajinikanth, meanwhile, will be seen essaying the role of an ageing gangster living out of Chennai's Mylapore area. Pa Ranjith has helmed "Kabali," which has Radhika Apte playing an important character.
"Kabali" has raced ahead of "Sultan" in YouTube hits on respective teasers. While Salman's "dhobi pachhaad" act has garnered 17.2 million hits in a month's time, "Kabali" is inching close towards the 18-million mark after just two weeks of its release.
"Kabali" is reportedly the most-watched Indian film teaser on YouTube.
