Exclusive: Why Vidya Balan was unable to work with Rajinikanth before Jailer 2

Vidya Balan has carved a niche for herself in Indian cinema with her versatility and choice of unconventional roles, often challenging stereotypes and redefining female-led storytelling. Now, the acclaimed actor is set to expand her horizons by making her Tamil cinema debut with Jailer 2. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, she talks about working with Rajinikanth and excitement around the film.
Vidya Balan on Jailer 2
Talking about her association with the film, Vidya said, “I don’t know if I can call it a stint, but I do think, and I hope, it’s the beginning of something here. And what better way to start than with a Rajinikanth film? I’m thrilled to be part of the Jailer world.”
Sharing what drew her to the project, the actor said that it was the nature of her character that convinced her to come on board. “It is a very interesting character, which is why I said yes. And now I’m doing a full-fledged Tamil film with R Balki.”
On a previous offer to work with Rajinikanth
The actress essays the role of Kantha, an antagonist in the film, and her glimpse in the trailer garnered praise. When asked if she had previously been offered a chance to work with Rajinikanth, the actress revealed, “Yes, a few years ago, I was offered a film with him. Because of a clash of dates, I couldn’t do it. But I’m glad that I got this other opportunity to work with him now.”
The film also features Mohanlal, Vijay Sethupathi and Mithun Chakraborty, and reports are rife that Hrithik Roshan, too, has a special appearance. Reacting to fans’ excitement over the stellar cast, the actress gushed, “It’s lovely that people are so interested in coming up with theories. But it’s an exciting star cast. So I can only imagine how people must be wondering who is doing what in the film.”
While the actress was excited to do something different, she also felt awkward blowing smoke in Rajinikanth’s face. She rued, “I was awkward blowing smoke into Rajinikanth’s face. Because of the immense respect one feels for him, I was like, how will I do it? But I did. This is what being an actor calls for.”