Chennai: Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth rivalry played out in public after Kamal Haasan took his “good friend” head on, blasting him for his comments on Sterlite protestors of Tuticorin.

Taking serious exception to Rajinikanth’s comments that Sterlite protesters were anti-social, Kamal Haasan forcefully retorted that if the sterlite protesters, 13 of whom were killed in police firing, were anti-social, then he too was an anti-social. Kamal Haasan has been slamming Rajinikanth on other occasions too and in the past had questioned his silence over Cauvery.

In fact, it was Rajinikanth’s Cauvery comments that led to protests against Rajinikanth starrer Kaala I Karnataka where its release is under a cloud. Karnataka could miss the global release of the film slated for June 7 and Rajinikanth fans in Bangalore were planning to cross the border and see the film in neighbouring Hosur, which is a little over25 kms way.

Kamal Haasan, who was in Bangalore on Monday to call on new chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, chose to remain silent when media persons asked him if he raised the issue of his friend’s film Kaala with the chief minister. Incidentally the CM had opined that since it was the will of the people, the film should not be shown in Karnataka, but he said no final decision on the issue was taken so far.

Meanwhile there is some speculation that Rajinikanth could gain politically in Tamil Nadu, as his film was being stopped for his comments on Cauvery issue.