‘Jailer 2’ Controversy: Mohanlal’s Body Double Jobi Kodakara Claims Only His Hands and Legs Used, Face Not Shown
Mohanlal's body double in 'Jailer 2', Jobi Kodakara, claims only his hands and legs were used in the film, with his face never shown. This revelation, made during an interview adds to the controversy surrounding the superstar's limited screen time, despite action director Chethan D'Souza confirming Mohanlal performed the climax car scene.
The much-anticipated sequel, Jailer 2, which hit screens worldwide on October 15, 2026, has found itself embroiled in a new controversy. Jobi Kodakara, a mimicry artist who worked as a body double for Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the film, has publicly stated that his face was intentionally kept out of the final cut, with only his hands and legs utilised for the scenes he performed. This comes amidst widespread discussions among fans and industry insiders regarding the significant reduction in Mohanlal's screen presence in the movie. ‘Jailer 2’ Box Office Collection Day 6: Rajinikanth Starrer Roars Past INR 541 Crore Worldwide!.
Mohanlal's ‘Jailer 2’Body Double Makes Shocking Revelation
Jobi Kodakara's claims emerged prominently following an interview on the YouTube channel Jango Space TV. In the interview, Kodakara clarified his involvement, stating, "My face has not been shown anywhere in the film; only my hands and legs were used".
He also reportedly shared photographs of himself in Mohanlal's 'Mathew' character look on the film's release day, which quickly circulated online before he deleted them. Kodakara, a Kerala-based mimicry artiste with nearly two decades of experience as a stand-in for actors in stage shows, expressed happiness at being part of such a big project and getting to meet superstar Rajinikanth. He served as a stand-in for portions of the Nelson Dilipkumar-directed sequel.
Mohanlal reprises his popular role as Mathew, the stylish smuggler and friend of Rajinikanth's Muthuvel Pandian, a character first introduced in the 2023 blockbuster Jailer. In the sequel, Mohanlal's character makes a key appearance during the climax.
Mohanlal's ‘Jailer 2’ Body Double Controversy
Action Director's Clarification and Screen Time Debate
Adding another layer to the unfolding drama, Jailer 2's action director, Chethan D'Souza, recently addressed speculation about a body double being used for crucial scenes. D'Souza explicitly confirmed that Mohanlal himself performed the climax car scene, directly refuting rumours that a dupe was used for that specific sequence.
This body double controversy follows earlier public criticism regarding Mohanlal's overall screen time in Jailer 2. Jishad Shamsudeen, Mohanlal's personal stylist and costume designer for the film, expressed his disappointment with the makers, claiming that three distinct looks created for the superstar did not make it into the final cut.
“From my experience in cinema, trimming scenes involving a superstar like Mohanlal Sir is simply unnecessary,” Shamsudeen stated, indicating he would not be part of a potential third instalment of the franchise.
Jailer 2, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner, has been a massive box-office success despite the internal controversies. The film, starring Rajinikanth, SJ Suryah, Mithun Chakraborty, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Ramya Krishnan, and Vidya Balan, has reportedly grossed over INR 541 crore worldwide by its sixth day of release. ‘Jailer 2’ Review: Rajinikanth’s Swagger, Cameo Surprises and High-Voltage Action Power a Crowd-Pleasing Spectacle.
As the film continues its strong run at the box office, the debate surrounding directorial choices, superstar screen presence, and the nuances of filmmaking with body doubles is unlikely to die down anytime soon within the South Indian cinema landscape.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 21, 2026 11:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).