Questions surrounding Mohanlal’s appearance in ‘Jailer 2’ have taken a new turn after action director Chethan D’Souza addressed speculation about whether the Malayalam superstar used a body double for a key car sequence in the film’s climax.
The discussion began among fans who felt Mohanlal’s role in the Rajinikanth-led sequel was smaller than expected. Concerns about scenes allegedly removed during editing added to the debate, with some viewers questioning whether a stand-in had appeared in place of the actor.
Responding to a fan’s query under an Instagram post, Chethan clarified that Mohanlal himself performed the disputed climax car scene. His brief response, “It’s him,” directly countered claims that another person had replaced the actor in that sequence.
The clarification follows remarks by mimicry artiste Jobi Kodakara, who revealed that he had worked as a stand-in for Mohanlal during a few shots in the film. In an interview with the YouTube channel Jango Space, Jobi explained that only one or two shots featuring him had made it into the theatrical version.
According to Jobi, these shots appeared during the airport sequence near the climax and focused on specific body movements rather than showing his face. One involved a driver changing gears, while another showed a foot pressing the accelerator.
Jobi also denied claims that a face seen in the climax belonged to him. He said that his face was not shown in the film and suggested that production requirements, including time constraints, could have necessitated the use of a stand-in for certain shots. He expressed regret that photographs of him in Mohanlal’s appearance, shared on the film’s release day, had fuelled confusion.
The two statements point to a distinction between Mohanlal performing the main car sequence himself and a stand-in being used for a limited number of shots. However, neither explanation settles the separate debate over the actor’s overall screen time.
Fans have also questioned why Mohanlal’s introduction and certain portions reportedly seen in promotional material did not appear in the theatrical cut. Chethan did not answer a separate question about the allegedly shortened introduction, and the filmmakers have not publicly explained the editing choices.
Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, ‘Jailer 2’ brings Rajinikanth back as retired jailer Tiger Muthuvel Pandian. Mohanlal reprises his role as Mathew, with Shivarajkumar, Jackie Shroff, SJ Suryah, Ramya Krishnan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan, Namo Narayana, Yogi Babu and Mirnaa among the ensemble cast.
The sequel follows Muthuvel Pandian as he joins forces with familiar allies and new associates to protect his family from an idol-smuggling operation.
With the clarification about the climax sequence now on record, the discussion surrounding Mohanlal’s contribution to the film is likely to continue, particularly among fans hoping for more details about scenes that did not make the final cut.