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'What a human being he is? Rajinikanth's 'Jailer' remark on Mohanlal remains a fan-favorite moment
ETimes | May 16, 2026 6:39 PM CST

Rajinikanth ’s praise for Mohanlal at the ' Jailer ' audio launch has returned to focus as the franchise continues to draw attention. At the event held in 2023, the Tamil superstar called Mohanlal a great actor and a good human being, a remark that still speaks volumes about the respect accorded to their rare screen collaboration. Their pairing in Nelson Dilipkumar ’s film became one of the biggest talking points of 'Jailer,' which also brought together stars from different industries.




Rajinikanth’s praise for Mohanlal stays relevant


According to CinemaSnippets, Rajinikanth spoke warmly about Mohanlal during the 'Jailer' audio launch in Chennai. Mohanlal played Mathew in the film, marking his first collaboration with Rajinikanth.




Praising the Malayalam superstar, Rajinikanth said, “What a human being he is? He is a great actor and he astonished me.”




The statement stood out because 'Jailer' was built around a strong multi-industry cast. Along with Rajinikanth and Mohanlal, the film featured Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar and Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff. Their first-look posters had already created buzz among fans before the film’s release.




At the same event, Rajinikanth also spoke about director Nelson Dilipkumar. He revealed that he had received calls from various people asking him to replace the director after the criticism of Nelson’s earlier film, 'Beast.' Rajinikanth said he did not agree and chose to continue with Nelson for 'Jailer.'




'Jailer' cast made the film a pan-India talking point


Director Nelson Dilipkumar said Mohanlal readily agreed to be part of 'Jailer' because of his admiration for Rajinikanth. That detail added more weight to the casting, as the film marked the first time the two superstars shared screen space. For fans of Tamil and Malayalam cinema , their coming together was not just another cameo but a rare moment that connected two major film industries.




Mohanlal played Mathew in 'Jailer,' and his first-look poster had already created strong excitement before the film’s release. His presence also widened the film’s reach beyond Tamil audiences. With Rajinikanth leading the film and Mohanlal joining him in a key role, 'Jailer' became a major talking point among fans who had waited years to see both actors together in a project.


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