Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 2 hrs ago
Actor says Jailer 2 underused Mohanlal despite an entertaining film
Jailer 2, starring Rajinikanth, opened in cinemas this week as a sequel to the 2023 film Jailer.
Mohanlal returns as Mathew, a smuggler and friend of Rajinikanth’s character, Muthuvel Pandian.
Malayalam actor Aaryan said he enjoyed the film as a Rajinikanth fan, but felt Mohanlal was given too little screen presence.
He said the sequel did not give Mohanlal the kind of standout moments he had in the first film, and that the focus leaned too heavily towards Rajinikanth.
Mohanlal appears in a key scene near the climax, though some of his scenes may have been cut.
Costume designer Jishad Shamsudeen also criticised the trimming and said he would not work on another sequel.
The film is still being described as entertaining, but some Mohanlal fans have expressed disappointment with his role.
Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer 2 has drawn criticism from Malayalam actor Aaryan for giving Mohanlal too little screen presence.
Aaryan said he enjoyed the film as a Rajinikanth fan but felt “broken-hearted” as a Mohanlal fan.
Mohanlal reprises his role as Mathew in a cameo, including a key scene during the climax.
Aaryan said the film’s spotlight leaned too heavily towards Rajinikanth compared with the first Jailer.
He described Jailer 2 as entertaining, though less satisfying than the first film.
- Who
- Malayalam actor Aaryan criticised how Jailer 2 presents Mohanlal.
- What
- Aaryan said Mohanlal was underused in the sequel, while describing the film as entertaining.
- When
- Jailer 2 was released in theatres on the Thursday before the article was published on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- The film was released in theatres. Aaryan posted his review on Instagram.
- Why
- Aaryan said the balance of screen presence felt missing, with the spotlight leaning too heavily towards Rajinikanth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mohanlal’s character Mathew was introduced in the first Jailer film.
Jailer 2 was released in theatres, with Mohanlal reprising his role as Mathew.
Aaryan posted an Instagram review praising parts of the film while criticising Mohanlal’s screen presence.
- Film
- Jailer 2
- Director
- Nelson Dilipkumar
- Lead star
- Rajinikanth
- Mohanlal’s character
- Mathew
- Aaryan’s review platform
- Published
- October 17, 2026
What people are saying
As a Rajinikanth fan, I walked out of Jailer 2 happy. As a Nelson fan, I was pretty much satisfied. But the Mohanlal fan in me walked out with a broken heart!
Still, a thoroughly entertaining experience, though not as satisfying as the first Jailer.
This time, that balance felt missing, with the spotlight leaning a little too heavily towards Rajini alone.
From my experience in cinema, trimming scenes involving a superstar like Mohanlal Sir is simply unnecessary.