15 October,2026 07:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mohanlal in Jailer. Pic via X
Mohanlal's cameo as Mathew in Nelson Dilipkumar's Jailer 2 may be brief, but the decision to cut several of his scenes has not gone down well with his costume designer, Jishad Shamsudeen. The designer has publicly called out the film's makers, claiming that three distinct looks created for the Malayalam superstar were removed from the final cut. He has also said he would not be part of a possible third instalment.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday evening, Jishad shared a note alongside several looks he had designed for Mohanlal's character. He said he had been confident about the work based on what was filmed, even when the actor's appearance was reduced to a brief glimpse in the trailer.
"With the film's release, three of Mohanlal Sir's distinct looks were cut entirely, and even that trailer scene was trimmed out," he wrote. The designer also questioned the decision to reduce the screen time of a star of Mohanlal's stature. "From my experience in cinema, trimming scenes involving a superstar like Mohanlal Sir is simply unnecessary," he stated.
Making his position clear on a possible sequel, Jishad added, "Seeing our superstar reduced like this, if there is a sequel, I will not be a part of it. I am truly sorry to everyone who trusted me."
He further emphasised that his stand was rooted in his respect for the actor and the craft rather than commercial considerations. "I don't stand for favours, profits, crore clubs, or stardom. I stand solely for the fans, lovers of the craft, and Mohanlal Sir," he wrote, thanking those who have supported his journey.
Jishad's post also drew reactions from fans who expressed disappointment over the actor's limited appearance in Rajinikanth's film. "I was wondering too!! Why so less screen time for lalettan," one user commented, while another wrote, "We fans are upset."
Another questioned the decision to cast the actor if his role was going to be so brief, asking, "Can't believe they didn't use the famous Mathew theme from Jailer in Jailer 2. And cutting of the Mohanlal scene featured in the trailer clearly felt like an act of insecurity."
Mohanlal reprises Mathew, the flashy smuggler and friend of Rajinikanth's Muthuvel Pandian, whom he first played in the 2023 film Jailer. In the sequel, his character appears during the climax. Jishad's claims suggest that more of Mathew's scenes were filmed but did not make it into the final version. Jailer 2 is currently in theatres.
