Actors from Malayalam cinema on working in ‘Jailer 2’

The box office storm that Jailer 2unleashed last week has not yet died down. A group of actors from the Malayalam film industry is celebrating the roaring success of the Rajinikanth-starrer. Apart from Mohanlal, who continued his cameo [Mathew] from the first part, and Suraj Venjaramoodu as the menacing villain, Dileep, pitted against Rajinikanth’s Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, the audience also took note of these actors in spite of essaying brief roles.

Beyond a dream

Kottayam Nazeer plays Amir, a sidekick to Suraj’s character, who later double-crosses him. Nazeer recalls that after he watched Jailer 1 with his family back in 2023, he had jokingly told them, ‘Who knows? You might watch me with Rajini sir in Jailer 2!’ “I was bragging, and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would share the screen with someone whom every actor wants to meet. Irrespective of my screen time, I am happy that my character has a name and depth. It felt good when I saw the teaser and my character poster,” shares Nazeer, who has completed over three decades in Malayalam cinema as an actor, even as he entertained audiences as one of Malayalam’s leading mimicry artistes. “I have imitated Rajini sir, countless times, and when I finally met him in person, I didn’t know if it was all happening for real or not,” says Nazeer, who also dubbed for his character.

But, Nazeer says that, interestingly no one in the team knew that he was a mimicry artiste. “I got the role because of my performances in Thalavan and Vaazha.”

The big moment was when he was introduced to Rajinikanth by Suraj. An accomplished painter as well, Nazeer even managed to show his art book, Art of my Heart, to the actor. “He was surprised and I could feel his respect and appreciation for the artiste in me.”

Nazeer, who had done a small role in the Tamil movie, Campus in 2004, mentions that like all actors he also thought whether the role would get edited out or not. “After all, the film has so many actors and cameos. I was lucky to get that much screen time, including a crucial scene with SJ Suryah sir.”

Nazeer, who established his credentials as a “character actor” with Mammootty’s Rorschach( 2022), has since done notable roles inThalavan, Vaazha, Anveshippin Kandethum, Alappuzha Gymkhana, and the latest, Avarachan and Sons.

In august company

How was it to be in the same frame with Rajinikanth, Hrithik Roshan, Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan, SJ Suryah and Ramya Krishnan? Hakkim Shahjahan has been asked this question several times. “Obviously, happy!” is all that he has to say.

He plays the ruthless Sharva Kalpak of Goa-based idol-smuggling empire run by Chakri Kalpak (Mithun) and Sharvak’s siblings are played by Suryah, Vidya and Jatin Sarna.

The actor, who has a solid body of work in Malayalam cinema, was approached for a role in Jailer 1, but nothing happened after he sent his photograph. “When the sequel was announced, they called me to Chennai and did a look test for three characters. Sharva Kalpak was finalised eventually.”

Hakkim says that it was his negative roles in Kadaseela Biriyani and Sorgavaasal that fetched him the role in Jailer 2. “Nelson sir wanted me to play a villain who is in between these two.” The actor adds that he had put on some weight to look the age. “The shoot for Jailer 2 went on for over a year, and I was shooting a few Malayalam movies during the same time, that too as cops. So I didn’t have to look young or lose weight.” Hakkim adds that by the time Jailer 2 was ready, three of his films were completed and reached theatres – Mirage, Oru Pennu Case and I, Nobody, and another one is now in the post production stage – Hail Mary.

Hakkim admits that he was star-struck on the first day he met the bevy of big stars. “Their characters came to my mind when I first saw them. For example, when I met Ramya ma’am, I was reminded me of Baahubali. But after that initial fan-boying, you realise that you are there to work. Also, I never got into their personal space. They were also busy, with so many people coming up to meet them. I was sure none of them had seen my work and so I introduced myself to each of them. Initially, they didn’t even know I was an artiste in the film. But eventually we started exchanging pleasantries every day, especially with the shoot going on for over a year,” he recalls, adding Vidya was the friendliest. “She has an outgoing personality and was great at initiating conversations.”

Meanwhile, his scene with Mohanlal did not make it to the movie.

Blown away by the reception for the movie and his role, Hakkim says, “People say I have done well, but I know this is not my best. However, this is all new for me. While working with such veteran actors, I am the last one in the hierarchy when it comes to getting a dialogue. So what I had to do was to mind my work and be sensible. That is all I did and when I am getting this kind of response I am overwhelmed.”

But he missed out on something. “I wanted to click photos with all the stars, which I kept postponing. The schedule became so tight towards the end that I forgot all about it!”

Dancing away

Anirudh Ravichander’s high-energy dance number, ‘Ala bolelo’, which comes at a crucial point in the movie, features Malayalam actor-dancer Shamna Kasim and actor-director Rajesh Madhavan. Shamna says that Nelson called her after watching her Telugu song, ‘Kurichi madathapetti’ from Guntur Kaaram (2024). “I was looking forward to working with Rajini sir for the first time. But the first thing I asked the team was about the costume. I would not able to pull off Tamannah’s look in ‘Kaavalaya’ [from Jailor 1]. It is not that I have anything against that costume. Only that it won’t suit my body type. I was happy to know that it would be a sari. Nelson sir specifically told me to not look at it as an item number. He wanted a graceful dance number.”

A sweet takeaway for the actor is that she danced for the song without knowing that she is pregnant with her second child. “I realised it only a few days later while working in a Telugu movie.” Shamna has signed a new Tamil movie with Hiphop Tamizha.

Rajesh Madhavan says that it was his comic take in Madanotsavam that fetched him the part in the song sequence. “I have not done something like this and was worried. Nelson sir wanted me to be as eccentric as possible! The canvas of the song — a huge set with dozens of country boats and hundreds of artistes — was intimidating, and at one point I even thought of coming back. But my friends encouraged me to stay put and give my best. My wife was there as she wanted to meet Rajini sir.” It was on the sixth and final day of his shoot that he was told about the portion with Rajinikanth, where he had to go near him and sing. “The first thing sir asked me was if I was a singer! Later, when I hesitated to move closer, he pulled me near, close to his face. That was quite a moment!” Rajesh adds, “His aura is something else. I am overjoyed that I am part of a song that is making a whole theatre go berserk.”

Rajesh is currently shooting for his new Tamil movie.

Among other actors from Malayalam in the movie are Sunil Sugatha, Sujith Shankar, Anna Rajan and Noble K Thomas.