Actress Apeksha Porwal has described working with superstar Rajinikanth on Jailer 2 as a 'surreal' experience, saying she had grown up hearing of his mythical stardom but witnessing it in person was something else entirely. The film, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, is currently the highest-grossing Indian film of 2026 and the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2026.

Apeksha Porwal on Rajinikanth's stardom

'It was an absolutely surreal experience working with Rajinikanth Sir. Till now, he was a mythical phenomenon whose stardom I had heard of, but then I actually got to see it up close,' Porwal said in a statement. The actress, who joins the franchise as part of the sequel's expanded cast, said the encounter exceeded every expectation she had carried into the shoot.

Humility behind the legend

What left the deepest impression on Porwal was not the sheer scale of Rajinikanth's fame, but the way he conducted himself on set. 'I've never seen a star of his stature be this humble and kind to everyone around. His simplicity, his humility, the aura he carries — that's his greatness. He would always have a smile on his face and greet everybody,' she said. For a newcomer sharing screen space with one of Indian cinema's biggest icons, Rajinikanth's approachability reportedly made the experience particularly memorable.

About Jailer 2 and its cast

Jailer 2 is a sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer, in which Rajinikanth played a retired jailer hunting down an eccentric idol smuggler who threatens his family. The sequel sees returning cast members Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, Mirnaa, and Rithvik, alongside new additions S. J. Suryah, Mithun Chakraborty, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Vidya Balan. Supporting roles are played by Vinayakan, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil, and Vasanth Ravi, while Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, and Jackie Shroff appear in guest roles.

Box office milestone

The film's record-breaking run at the box office underscores Rajinikanth's enduring pull with audiences across India and the Tamil diaspora. This comes amid a strong year for Tamil-language cinema, with Jailer 2 setting the commercial benchmark for 2026. Notably, the original Jailer was itself one of the biggest Tamil hits of 2023, and the sequel appears to have surpassed it decisively.

As the film continues its theatrical run, audience and critical attention is expected to remain firmly on the franchise's next chapter and on the careers of newer cast members like Porwal, who have used the platform to introduce themselves to a pan-India audience.