Jailer 2: Box Office, Cast, Hindi Release and What the Critics Say
Jailer 2 is the biggest Indian film in cinemas right now. Rajinikanth's sequel to his 2023 blockbuster, which made more than Rs 600 crore worldwide, opened on 15 October and crossed Rs 200 crore around the world in its first two days.
It's a Tamil film, not a Bollywood one, but it's been made with Hindi audiences in mind: it's out in Hindi as Rajini The Jailer 2, and it has brought in Vidya Balan and Mithun Chakraborty, alongside Jackie Shroff from the first film and a cameo from Hrithik Roshan. Here's how it's doing, who's in it, why the Hindi version is hard to find, and what the critics think.
Jailer 2 box office collection
Jailer 2 opened big and reached about Rs 210 crore worldwide by the end of its second day, with a large share coming from overseas. Its second-day drop was smaller than the first Jailer's, and advance bookings for its first Saturday were stronger still. Trade trackers expect it to pass Rs 400 crore worldwide by the end of Sunday, 18 October.
Kerala has been a story of its own. The film opened to record numbers there, helped by Mohanlal's cameo, but it has also drawn a backlash from his fans, who feel he isn't on screen nearly enough. The Hindi version is a much smaller part of the picture, for reasons that have nothing to do with the film itself.
Why the Hindi version is hard to find
If you've looked for Rajini The Jailer 2 at a PVR, INOX or Cinepolis and come up empty, there's a reason. The big national multiplex chains expect Hindi films to stay in cinemas for eight weeks before they go to streaming. Jailer 2's streaming deal reportedly allows it online after just four weeks, so the chains have kept the Hindi version off their screens, and in North India it's playing mainly in single-screen cinemas.
The other language versions aren't affected. Neither the makers nor the chains have publicly confirmed the arrangement, but the result shows in the numbers: the Hindi version's opening was a small fraction of the Tamil version's. If you're outside the South, your best chance may be the Tamil version with subtitles.
Jailer 2 cast and characters
Rajinikanth is back as Muthuvel Pandian, the retired jailer with a violent past, with Ramya Krishnan as his wife Viji, Mirnaa and Yogi Babu also returning. The new villains are the Kalpak family, led by S. J. Suryah as Bodhi, with Mithun Chakraborty and Vidya Balan as Chakri and Kantha Kalpak.
The cameos are a big part of the pitch. Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar and Jackie Shroff return from the first film as Mathew, Narasimha and Kamdev, and the sequel adds Hrithik Roshan and Vijay Sethupathi. How much they get to do is another matter: several reviews say the cameos are brief, and Mohanlal's fans have complained loudly about his screen time.
What is Jailer 2 about?
The sequel picks up three months after the first film. Muthuvel Pandian is living quietly near the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border when he's pulled back into the idol-smuggling underworld and into a war with the powerful Kalpak family. As in the first film, Nelson mixes brutal action with dark, deadpan comedy, and the story turns on what Muthuvel will do to protect his family.
Jailer 2 review: what the critics say
“Rajinikanth is the showstopper in Nelson Dilipkumar's whistle-worthy mass entertainer.”
Reviews have been mixed to positive, with ratings mostly between 2.5 and 3.5 out of 5. Almost everyone agrees on the first half: Rajinikanth's screen presence, Nelson's dark humour and Anirudh's music make it a lot of fun, and one review singled out the stretch with Rajinikanth, Yogi Babu and Namo Narayana as the most entertaining part of the film.
The complaints are about the second half. Critics found the plot thin and predictable, said the near three-hour runtime feels stretched, and were split on the cameos: some felt they fit the story, others that they add little. The harshest reviews called it a sequel for Rajinikanth fans only.
Jailer 2 OTT release: when will it stream?
No streaming date has been announced. The digital rights have reportedly gone to Amazon Prime Video, and the reported four-week window behind the multiplex dispute suggests it could stream from mid-November. We'll update this page when a date is confirmed.
Quick answers
Is Jailer 2 a Bollywood film?
No. It's a Tamil film made by Sun Pictures, but it's released in Hindi as Rajini The Jailer 2 and its cast includes Bollywood stars Vidya Balan, Mithun Chakraborty, Jackie Shroff and Hrithik Roshan.
How much has Jailer 2 collected?
About Rs 210 crore worldwide in its first two days, to 16 October 2026. Trade projections expect it to pass Rs 400 crore by the end of its first Sunday.
Is Hrithik Roshan in Jailer 2?
Yes, in a cameo. Vidya Balan and Mithun Chakraborty have bigger roles as members of the villainous Kalpak family.
Why isn't Jailer 2 Hindi playing at PVR INOX?
The major multiplex chains reportedly want an eight-week gap between cinema and streaming for Hindi films, and Jailer 2's streaming deal reportedly allows four weeks. The Hindi version is playing mainly in single-screen cinemas.
When will Jailer 2 come to OTT?
No date has been announced. The streaming rights have reportedly gone to Amazon Prime Video.
How long is Jailer 2?
2 hours 45 minutes.
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.
