Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 is doing exactly what a Rajinikanth film is supposed to do — fill theatres and pile up numbers. Released on 15 October, the Nelson Dilipkumar-directed sequel has already crossed the Rs 200-crore mark worldwide. But away from the celebrations, a familiar complaint is echoing through Kerala’s fan circles: where is Mohanlal?
Malayalam actor Aaryan has become the most prominent voice of that disappointment. In a review posted on Instagram, he said the film made him happy as a Rajinikanth fan but left him heartbroken as a Mohanlal fan, disappointed by the limited screen time given to the Malayalam superstar, who reprises his role as Mathew, the flamboyant underworld figure from the first Jailer.
And Aaryan is not alone. Mohanlal’s personal costume designer, Jishad Shamsudeen, went a step further — publicly objecting to the trimming of the actor’s scenes, then issuing a clarification after his post drew widespread attention.
‘The Mohanlal Fan in Me Walked Out With a Broken Heart’
Aaryan’s review, shared on Instagram, walked a careful line between admiration and disappointment. “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,” he wrote.
His argument rested on a comparison with the 2023 original. What he loved most about the first Jailer, he said, was how Nelson gave Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar and Jackie Shroff their own powerful screen presence alongside Rajinikanth — each of them getting their own “glorious mass moments” even in the superstar’s film. This time, he felt, that balance was missing, with the spotlight leaning too heavily towards Rajini alone.
He also had a pointed question for the director: “Nelson bro … couldn’t you have at least kept those Lalettan shots from the trailer?!”
That last line matters, because it touches the sorest spot in this whole controversy. A scene featuring Mohanlal that appeared in the film’s trailer did not make it into the final cut — a detail confirmed independently by both Aaryan’s review and Jishad Shamsudeen’s statements, and one that has become a talking point among fans.
Aaryan’s Verdict: Terrific First Half, Faltering Second
The disappointment with Mohanlal’s screen time was only part of Aaryan’s review. On the film itself, he was largely positive about the opening stretch. “The first half was TERRIFIC!” he wrote, adding that it was so good he expected the second half to take things to a whole new level. “Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to those expectations.”
Still, he called Jailer 2 “a thoroughly entertaining experience, though not as satisfying as the first Jailer” and “definitely a film worth watching.” He singled out Suraj Venjaramoodu — “Suraj Ettan was just superb” — and described a new cameo in the film with a fire emoji.
His parting advice to fellow fans was blunt: “My dear fellow Lalettan fans, better leave your expectations outside the theatre before walking in!” He signed off insisting his loyalties were intact — still a Nelson fan, still a Rajini fan, and forever a Lalettan fan.
Mohanlal’s Stylist Says Three Looks Were Cut Entirely
While Aaryan spoke as a fan and fellow actor, Jishad Shamsudeen spoke as an insider. Jishad, who works as Mohanlal’s personal designer and stylist, posted a statement on Instagram on Thursday — the day Jailer 2 hit theatres — claiming that three distinct looks he had created for the actor were removed entirely from the film, and that the one scene featuring Mohanlal in the trailer had been trimmed out.
“Based on what was shot, I was completely confident in our work, even when reduced to a 2-second glimpse in the trailer,” he wrote. “But with the film’s release, three of Mohanlal Sir’s distinct looks were cut entirely, and even that trailer scene was trimmed out.”
He did not stop at describing the cuts. “From my experience in cinema, trimming scenes involving a superstar like Mohanlal sir is simply unnecessary,” he said. And then came the strongest line of all: “Seeing our superstar reduced like this, if there is a sequel, I will not be a part of it. I am truly sorry to everyone who trusted me.”
Jishad also shared photographs of the looks he had designed for Mohanlal that did not make it into the film, and framed his protest in personal terms: “I don’t stand for favours, profits, crore clubs, or stardom. I stand solely for the fans, lovers of the craft, and Mohanlal Sir.”
For context, Jishad is no newcomer to big-ticket work — he previously designed the denim jacket Salman Khan wore in the song “Heeriye” from Race 3.
‘I Wholeheartedly Respect the Creative Process’: Jishad Clarifies
The statement travelled fast, and within a day Jishad returned to Instagram to soften its edges. In his clarification, he said his earlier remarks came purely from the heart of a devoted Lalettan fan, and that as someone who admires Mohanlal deeply, it was naturally disheartening to see his portions reduced.
“At the same time, as a technician in this industry, I wholeheartedly respect the creative process and the autonomy of the filmmakers,” he wrote, adding his thanks and “sending love.”
Read together, the two posts tell an interesting story. The facts he laid out — three looks cut, a trailer scene trimmed — were not withdrawn. What changed was the framing: from a threat to boycott any future sequel to an expression of respect for the director’s right to edit. The disappointment stayed; the confrontation did not.
Why Mohanlal’s Role Has Become the Film’s Biggest Talking Point
In Jailer 2, Mohanlal reprises Mathew, the notorious smuggler and close ally of Rajinikanth’s character, Muthuvel Pandian — known to fans as Tiger. His appearance, complete with distinctive outfits and sunglasses, was one of the first film’s most celebrated surprises, and expectations for the sequel were correspondingly high.
Those expectations have collided with reality. According to reports, a majority of Malayali viewers have expressed disappointment over Mohanlal’s limited screen time, and the reported removal of a scene previously shown in the trailer has only sharpened the conversation.
The film itself is far from a washout otherwise. Alongside Rajinikanth and Mohanlal, Jailer 2 features Vidya Balan, Mithun Chakraborty, Jackie Shroff and S J Suryah, and includes a cameo by Hrithik Roshan, who plays Roddy, a character with a history dating back two decades with Tiger Muthuvel. The film has received 3 stars out of 5 from ETimes, and its worldwide box-office run past Rs 200 crore suggests the core audience is showing up regardless.
The Balance Problem Nelson Didn’t Have Last Time
What makes this controversy resonate is that the first Jailer set the template Aaryan describes. The 2023 film was praised precisely because its guest appearances — Mohanlal’s Mathew among them — felt like events, not afterthoughts. Each cameo carried weight, and fans of those stars left theatres satisfied.
Jailer 2, by several accounts, has tilted that equation. The film still works as a Rajinikanth vehicle — that is what the box office is confirming — but for audiences who bought tickets partly for Mathew, the experience has felt thinner. Aaryan’s review captures that split perfectly: satisfied as a Rajini fan, shortchanged as a Lalettan fan.
Neither Nelson Dilipkumar nor the film’s producers have publicly responded to the screen-time criticism, and no official explanation has been given for the removal of the trailer scene or the three looks Jishad described. Whether the filmmakers address the complaint — or simply let the box office speak for them — may shape how the Jailer franchise handles its star cameos the next time around.
For now, the film’s fans have their blockbuster, Mohanlal’s fans have their grievance, and one costume designer has learned how quickly a heartfelt Instagram post can become national entertainment news — and how carefully it needs to be walked back.
FAQ
What did Aaryan say about Jailer 2?
In an Instagram review, Malayalam actor Aaryan said Jailer 2 made him happy as a Rajinikanth fan and satisfied as a Nelson Dilipkumar fan, but left him heartbroken as a Mohanlal fan because the Malayalam superstar’s screen time felt limited compared with the first film. He praised the first half as terrific, felt the second half fell short of expectations, and asked why the Lalettan shots shown in the trailer were not kept in the film.
Why did Mohanlal's costume designer Jishad Shamsudeen object to Jailer 2?
Jishad Shamsudeen, Mohanlal’s personal designer and stylist, said on Instagram on the film’s release day that three distinct looks he created for Mohanlal were cut entirely from Jailer 2 and that a trailer scene featuring the actor was trimmed. He called trimming scenes of a superstar like Mohanlal unnecessary and said he would not be part of a sequel. He later clarified that his comments came from fan disappointment and that he wholeheartedly respects the creative process and the autonomy of the filmmakers.
How is Jailer 2 performing at the box office?
Jailer 2, released in theatres on 15 October, has crossed the Rs 200-crore mark worldwide, according to reports. The film has received 3 stars out of 5 from ETimes.
Who does Mohanlal play in Jailer 2?
Mohanlal reprises his role as Mathew, the flamboyant underworld kingpin and smuggler who is a close ally of Rajinikanth’s character, Muthuvel Pandian, also known as Tiger.