Aaryan on Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2: ‘Heartbroken’ Over Mohanlal’s Screen Time

Malayalam actor Aaryan has said he was left “heartbroken” by Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2, telling NDTV he was disappointed with the reduced screen time given to Malayalam superstar Mohanlal. The reaction follows Mohanlal’s stylist — identified in reports as Jailer 2 costume designer Jishad Shamsudeen — objecting publicly to the trimmed role before later clarifying that he “wholeheartedly respect[s] the creative process.” As of these reports, neither Mohanlal nor the film’s makers had publicly responded.

Who is Aaryan, and why did Jailer 2 leave him “heartbroken”?

Aaryan is a Malayalam actor who, according to NDTV, watched Jailer 2 and came away disappointed with how little space the film gives Mohanlal. His exact remark, as reported, is that the Rajinikanth film left him “heartbroken.” Importantly, his grief appears directed at Mohanlal’s diminished presence rather than at Rajinikanth’s performance — the NDTV headline frames it as a reaction to how a Rajinikanth film treated a Malayalam icon.

The headlines do not reveal how many minutes Mohanlal appears in Jailer 2, whether any of his scenes were cut after filming, or what screen time Aaryan had expected. What is clear is that the complaint resonates with Malayalam audiences who were closely tracking Mohanlal’s role in a Rajinikanth-fronted pan-Indian release.

What did Mohanlal’s stylist say about his reduced screen time?

ThePrint reported that Mohanlal’s stylist objected to the actor’s reduced screen time in Jailer 2. The detail that a stylist — rather than a co-star or director — chose to speak out is notable. A costume designer prepares an actor’s look for every scheduled scene and is typically present for fittings and much of the shoot, so a stylist’s objection carries the implied weight of someone who saw how much Mohanlal was originally planned to feature and how the finished film compares.

The reports do not state whether the stylist saw a rough cut, a preview screening, or the final theatrical version, so it is not known from these headlines exactly how he measured the reduction.

Who is Jishad Shamsudeen, and what did he clarify?

Reports by ThePrint describe Jishad Shamsudeen as Mohanlal’s stylist, while The Times of India identifies him as a costume designer on Jailer 2. After his objection circulated, Shamsudeen issued a clarification through The Times of India. The quote carried in that headline is unambiguous:

“I wholeheartedly respect the creative process.” — Jishad Shamsudeen, Jailer 2 costume designer, per The Times of India

Because only the headline has surfaced in the material available here, the full clarification — including whether he withdrew, softened, or stood by his objection — is not public yet. What is evident is that he chose to respond publicly rather than let the complaint stand unaddressed.

At a glance: what each report says

What is Jailer 2, and why does Mohanlal’s role matter so much?

Jailer 2 is the sequel to Jailer (2023), a Tamil action film starring Rajinikanth as a retired jailer drawn back into a fight against a gang of criminals. The first film was a notable commercial success — reportedly grossing well over 300 crore rupees worldwide — and generated attention partly because Mohanlal, one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest superstars, appeared in it in a cameo. That cameo made his involvement one of the most-discussed elements of the project and raised expectations for the sequel.

For background context: cross-industry cameos between Tamil and Malayalam superstars draw unusually strong scrutiny from both fan bases. When an actor of Mohanlal’s stature is reported to have reduced screen time, the conversation tends to shift quickly from creative choices to perceived slight, which is likely why Aaryan’s emotional framing and the stylist’s objection have attracted coverage of their own.

What is still unknown about the Jailer 2 screen-time story?

• Final runtime: No source here confirms how many minutes Mohanlal actually appears in Jailer 2.
• Reason for the reduction: It is unclear whether scenes were deleted after filming or whether Mohanlal’s role was always limited.
• Mohanlal’s response: The headlines contain no comment from the actor himself.
• Official line: Neither the director nor the producers are quoted in these reports.
• The full clarification: Only the headline quote of Shamsudeen’s clarification is public in this material.

Could this controversy affect Jailer 2?

If Jailer 2’s run is still in early stages, commentary like this can shape audience expectations — but a stylist’s objection is unlikely to determine the film’s box-office fate on its own. What could move the story forward is an official statement from the makers, a response from Mohanlal, or confirmation of the final cut’s running time. Until then, the documented facts remain limited to the three reported statements above.

Bottom line: Aaryan’s “heartbroken” remark and Shamsudeen’s objection-then-clarification are the whole of the confirmed story so far; everything else about Mohanlal’s role in Jailer 2 remains unconfirmed, and readers should treat detailed claims beyond these headlines with caution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Aaryan say Jailer 2 left him heartbroken?

Malayalam actor Aaryan told NDTV he was disappointed with Mohanlal's reduced screen time in Rajinikanth's Jailer 2 and that the film left him "heartbroken." The reports do not specify how much screen time he expected or how many minutes Mohanlal actually appears in the film.

Who is Jishad Shamsudeen?

Jishad Shamsudeen is described by ThePrint as Mohanlal's stylist and by The Times of India as a costume designer on Jailer 2. He objected to Mohanlal's reduced screen time in the film, then issued a clarification saying he "wholeheartedly respect[s] the creative process."

Was Mohanlal's role actually cut from Jailer 2?

Mohanlal's stylist publicly objected to a reported reduction in his screen time, but no official statement from the makers confirms how much he appears. Whether scenes were deleted after filming or the role was always limited remains unconfirmed in these reports.

Has Mohanlal responded to the Jailer 2 screen-time controversy?

Not in the reporting available here. The headlines cover Aaryan's remarks, the stylist's objection, and Shamsudeen's clarification, but contain no comment from Mohanlal, the director, or the producers of Jailer 2.

About The Author

Rohan Menon

Rohan Menon covers business, personal finance, markets, startups and economic developments. He breaks down complex financial and business topics into clear, easy-to-understand stories for a general audience.

See author's posts