The sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer, Jailer 2, has sparked a debate over Mohanlal’s screen presence and the use of a body double. Jobi Kodakara, a mimicry artist who worked as Mohanlal’s body double in the film, has revealed that his face does not appear in the final version, with only his hands and legs used in the scenes he performed.
Released worldwide on October 15, 2026, the Nelson Dilipkumar-directed film has attracted attention not only for its box-office performance but also for discussions about the Malayalam superstar’s limited screen time.
Jobi Kodakara Reveals His Role in Jailer 2
During an interview, Jobi Kodakara explained how his work was used in Jailer 2. He stated that his face was not shown in any scene and that the filmmakers used only his hands and legs for the portions he performed.
On the film’s release day, Kodakara reportedly shared photographs of himself dressed in the look of Mohanlal’s character, Mathew. The pictures circulated on social media before he deleted them.
A Kerala-based mimicry artist with nearly two decades of experience working as a stand-in for actors during stage shows, Kodakara expressed happiness about being involved in a major film project. He also spoke about getting the opportunity to meet superstar Rajinikanth.
Mohanlal reprises his role as Mathew, the stylish smuggler and associate of Rajinikanth’s character, Muthuvel Pandian. First introduced in the original Jailer, released in 2023, Mathew returns for a key appearance in the sequel’s climax.
Action Director Clarifies Mohanlal’s Climax Scene
Amid speculation about the use of a body double, Jailer 2 action director Chethan D’Souza has clarified that Mohanlal personally performed the car scene featured in the climax.
His statement directly addresses rumours that a stand-in was used for that particular sequence. However, Kodakara’s revelation has added to the wider discussion about the extent of Mohanlal’s involvement in the film’s final cut.
The debate over the actor’s screen time had already drawn criticism from people associated with the project, with questions being raised about why some of his filmed appearances were left out.
Mohanlal’s Screen Time Draws Criticism
Jishad Shamsudeen, Mohanlal’s personal stylist and the film’s costume designer, previously expressed disappointment with the makers over the actor’s limited presence in the final version.
According to Shamsudeen, three different looks prepared for Mohanlal were excluded from the released film. He also questioned the decision to trim scenes featuring an established star like Mohanlal, suggesting that such cuts were unnecessary.
Shamsudeen further indicated that he would not be involved in a possible third instalment of the franchise.
These comments, along with Kodakara’s account, have brought renewed attention to the creative decisions behind the sequel and the treatment of Mohanlal’s character in the film.
Jailer 2 Box Office Collection Crosses Rs. 541 Crore
Despite the discussions surrounding its production, Jailer 2 has reportedly performed strongly at the box office. By its sixth day in theatres, the film had collected more than Rs. 541 crore worldwide.
Produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, the film features Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, SJ Suryah, Mithun Chakraborty, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Ramya Krishnan and Vidya Balan.
As the sequel continues its theatrical run, the discussion surrounding Mohanlal’s screen time, the use of body doubles and the filmmakers’ editing decisions remains a prominent talking point among audiences and industry observers.