Malavika Mohanan wants to play a gangster, Sardar 2 hits screens Sept 10
Synopsis
Malavika Mohanan's candid wish to play a gangster grabbed headlines during a fan Q&A, but the bigger story is what she's already doing: starring in Sardar 2, a socially charged spy thriller that promises to shake audiences with an unsettling truth about plastic water bottles and public health — releasing worldwide on 10 September.
Key Takeaways
Malavika Mohanan revealed during a fan interaction that she would love to play a gangster in a future film.
Sardar 2 , directed by P S Mithran and starring Karthi , releases worldwide on 10 September with a U/A certificate.
The film's central theme revolves around health and hygiene , with Karthi warning audiences that its message about plastic water bottles will be impossible to ignore.
Principal photography wrapped in Bangkok in June 2024 , after the unit completed 100 days of shooting by April 2024 .
The spy thriller's story moves from Cambodia to China , serving as a sequel to the 2022 blockbuster Sardar , which tackled water commercialisation.
South Indian actress Malavika Mohanan has revealed that her dream role is that of a gangster, making the candid admission during a fan interaction session on social media ahead of the release of her upcoming Tamil spy thriller Sardar 2. The film, directed by P S Mithran and starring Karthi in the lead, is set to release worldwide on 10 September with a U/A certificate from the Censor Board.
What Malavika Told Her Fans
When a fan asked the actress what kind of roles she still wished to explore, Malavika was direct: 'I would love to play a gangster.' The response drew considerable attention online, given that her existing filmography spans romantic leads and dramatic roles across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema. The remark signals a clear appetite for edgier, action-driven characters — a space that relatively few leading actresses in South Indian cinema have staked out.
In the same session, Malavika also offered a lighthearted glimpse into life on the Sardar 2 promotional trail. Asked who was the bigger foodie between herself and co-star Karthi, she said: 'We both love food and snacking! I'm a big time snacker — I can snack anywhere anytime, and during the course of promotions I think I got an idea that Karthi sir is pretty similar too.'
What Sardar 2 Is About
Sardar 2 is the sequel to director P S Mithran's 2022 blockbuster Sardar, which spotlighted the commercialisation of water and went on to become a major box-office success. The follow-up shifts its thematic lens to health and hygiene, with Karthi's character operating as a spy whose mission takes him first to Cambodia and then to China, according to the director.
At the film's trailer launch, Karthi delivered a pointed message to audiences: 'You might have continued the practice of drinking water from plastic water bottles, but after watching this film, you won't be able to ignore the point it looks to make. That is because we've spoken about a truth that pertains to your health and that issue is bound to leave you shaken.' The statement has amplified curiosity around the film's central premise.
Production Journey
The unit of Sardar 2 completed 100 days of shooting by April 2024 and wrapped principal photography in Bangkok in June 2024. Malavika Mohanan had herself confirmed during an earlier fan Q&A session — conducted in May 2024 — that the shoot would conclude in June 2025, though the production timeline was evidently brought forward.
Technical Credits
On the technical front, Sardar 2 features cinematography by George Williams and a score by Sam C S. The film has been edited by Vijay Velukutty, with art direction by MSP Madhavan and B. Sekar. The screenplay has been written by Rathna Kumar, Aashameera Aiyappan, and Vignesh Muniyand, while action sequences were choreographed by Dhilip Subbarayan and Chethan D'Souza.
With its socially charged subject matter, a proven director-actor combination, and a worldwide release on 10 September, Sardar 2 is positioned as one of the more anticipated Tamil releases of the season — and all eyes will be on whether it can replicate the original's blockbuster run.
Point of View
Sardar 2's decision to weaponise a spy thriller as a vehicle for public health messaging is an ambitious gamble; the original's blockbuster success was built as much on its water-commercialisation theme as on Karthi's star power, and replicating that formula with a plastics-and-hygiene angle will test whether audiences are ready for a second dose of issue-driven entertainment dressed as action cinema.
NationPress
9 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of role does Malavika Mohanan want to play next?
Malavika Mohanan has said she would love to play a gangster, a role type she has not yet taken on in her career. She made the disclosure during a social media fan interaction session ahead of the release of Sardar 2.
When is Sardar 2 releasing and who stars in it?
Sardar 2 is releasing worldwide on 10 September with a U/A certificate from the Censor Board. The film stars Karthi in the lead, with Malavika Mohanan as his co-star, and is directed by P S Mithran.
What is the theme of Sardar 2?
Sardar 2 focuses on issues of health and hygiene, particularly around the use of plastic water bottles, according to statements made by Karthi at the trailer launch. It is the sequel to the 2022 film Sardar, which highlighted the commercialisation of water.
Where was Sardar 2 filmed and when did shooting wrap?
The unit completed 100 days of shooting by April 2024 and wrapped principal photography in Bangkok in June 2024. The film's story is set across Cambodia and China, as confirmed by director P S Mithran.
Who are the key technicians behind Sardar 2?
Sardar 2 features cinematography by George Williams, music by Sam C S, editing by Vijay Velukutty, and art direction by MSP Madhavan and B. Sekar. The screenplay was written by Rathna Kumar, Aashameera Aiyappan, and Vignesh Muniyand, with stunts by Dhilip Subbarayan and Chethan D'Souza.
