A throwback story about Thalapathy Vijay’s gesture towards Mohanlal during the making of ‘Jilla’ has resurfaced amid online debate over the Malayalam superstar’s screen time in Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer 2’. Vijay reportedly asked director RT Neason to place Mohanlal’s name before his own on the title card, despite being the Tamil film’s lead. The anecdote highlights the professional respect between the two stars, who shared the screen in the 2014 action drama.
How Vijay reportedly put Mohanlal before himself in ‘Jilla’
A story from the making of ‘Jilla’ has drawn renewed attention amid discussions about Mohanlal’s role in ‘Jailer 2’. According to a report by The Hindu, Vijay reportedly asked director RT Neason to place Mohanlal’s name before his own on the film’s title card, acknowledging the veteran actor’s stature and contribution to the project. Vijay also reportedly wanted the film to be promoted as a Mohanlal project. However, Mohanlal is said to have felt that Vijay’s name should come first, given that ‘Jilla’ was a Tamil film led by the Tamil superstar. Vijay reportedly stood by his decision, and Mohanlal’s name appeared before his own on the title card. The anecdote has since been cited by fans as an example of the respect the two actors shared while working together.The story has resurfaced as online discussions about Mohanlal’s role in ‘Jailer 2’ continue, drawing a contrast between the reported title-card decision in ‘Jilla’ and the debate surrounding the veteran actor’s screen presence in the Rajinikanth-starrer.
Mohanlal had praised Vijay while explaining why he accepted ‘Jilla’
Mohanlal had also spoken warmly about Vijay while discussing his decision to join ‘Jilla’. The actor cited Vijay and the production house as key reasons for accepting the project, while also acknowledging director RT Neason’s efforts to bring him on board.“The first and foremost reason to accept Jilla was Vijay, then a quality production house like Supergood Film,” Mohanlal said.He also praised Neason for approaching him with an interesting script and a substantial role. The film brought together two major stars from the Tamil and Malayalam industries, with Kajal Aggarwal and Niveda Thomas also featuring in the cast.Released in 2014, ‘Jilla’ centred on the relationship between a powerful man and his adopted son, with Vijay and Mohanlal sharing prominent roles. Their collaboration was notable for bringing the two actors together in a Tamil commercial entertainer.
‘Jailer 2’ screen time debate brings Vijay’s ‘Jilla’ gesture back into focus
Mohanlal’s appearance in Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer 2’ has prompted discussion among viewers about the extent of his role in the sequel. While his involvement was a talking point ahead of the film’s release, some online reactions have focused on his reported screen time in the final cut. Mohanlal’s personal costume designer, Jishad Shamsudeen, reportedly expressed disappointment over three looks created for the actor not appearing in the released film. According to the reports and online posts discussing the matter, some of the looks had also featured in promotional material.The reported omissions have fuelled debate among sections of the audience, including fans of Malayalam cinema. However, the filmmakers have not publicly explained the reported cuts, and the reasons behind the final edit remain unclear.Against this backdrop, the ‘Jilla’ anecdote has become part of the online conversation about how leading stars acknowledge one another’s contributions. While the circumstances surrounding the two films are different, Vijay’s reported insistence on giving Mohanlal top billing in the 2014 film has prompted fans to revisit their earlier collaboration.
More about ‘Jilla’ and ‘Jailer 2’
Directed by RT Neason, ‘Jilla’ starred Vijay and Mohanlal alongside Kajal Aggarwal and Niveda Thomas. The film brought together actors from two major South Indian film industries and remains a notable collaboration in both stars’ filmographies.‘Jailer 2’, meanwhile, reunites Rajinikanth with director Nelson Dilipkumar following the 2023 film ‘Jailer’. The sequel features an ensemble cast that includes Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar, Ramya Krishnan, Mithun Chakraborty and S. J. Suryah, among others, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.