Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer 2’ arrived in theatres on October 15, 2026, bringing with it a series of high-octane action sequences and larger-than-life moments. One scene that caught viewers’ attention in the film’s trailer featured the superstar standing in front of a massive explosion, prompting questions about how the sequence was executed.

Stunt and action director Chethan D’Souza has now revealed that the explosion was a live blast, with the team making some enhancements to the footage. In an interview with India Today Digital, he also spoke about director Nelson Dilipkumar’s approach to staging action, the creative process behind the film’s mass moments and his experience of working with Rajinikanth.

Chethan D’Souza confirms explosion was real

The explosion shown behind Rajinikanth in the trailer was not created entirely using visual effects. Chethan confirmed that the team carried out a live blast before enhancing the footage slightly for the final presentation.

“The blast behind Rajini sir that you have seen in the trailer is a live blast. We have enhanced it a little bit. You are going to see the behind-the-scenes footage after the film's release. There are more such surprises in the film, not just that blast,” he said.

Chethan also indicated that the explosion was only one of several notable moments created for the action entertainer. The behind-the-scenes footage is expected to offer viewers a closer look at the work involved in executing such sequences.

How Nelson Dilipkumar shaped the film’s action

Chethan credited Nelson’s clear creative vision for helping the team develop the action sequences in ‘Jailer 2’. According to the stunt director, the filmmaker had specific ideas about how scenes should progress, particularly when building towards dramatic elevations accompanied by music.

“The director is very clear about what he wants, his idea of mass and the timing for elevation and the music. He is clear. He used to tell me the concepts, and I would give him input. Based on that, we would come up with something different,” he added.

The process involved translating Nelson’s ideas into action while incorporating suggestions from the stunt team. The objective was to create sequences that suited the film’s tone and delivered the intended impact without relying solely on the scale of the stunts.

Chethan D’Souza recalls Rajinikanth’s humility

Chethan also spoke about the superstar’s attitude towards the stunt team, describing how Rajinikanth actively sought feedback while working on the action sequences.

“When I am explaining something, the stuntman Rajini sir would ask, ‘Am I doing fine? Do you need any change from my side?’ Such a big man saying that is very comforting. It is not about big and small; he treats everyone as equals,” Chethan recalled.

According to the action director, the actor’s willingness to listen to the team helped make the collaboration comfortable. His comments highlight the importance of communication between the performer and the crew responsible for executing demanding action scenes.

About ‘Jailer 2’

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, ‘Jailer 2’ sees Rajinikanth reprise his role as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian following the success of the 2023 film. The sequel features an ensemble cast that includes Mithun Chakraborty, S J Suryah, Ramya Krishnan, Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar and Jackie Shroff.