Vidya Balan Reveals What Happened When She Smoked on 'Jailer 2' Sets

As advance ticket bookings for superstar Rajinikanth's high-octane blockbuster Jailer 2 surge nationwide, Bollywood powerhouse Vidya Balan has revealed behind-the-scenes moments from the film's sets. The sequel sees Rajinikanth return in his celebrated avatar as retired IPS officer Muthuvel Pandian, also known as "Tiger," joined by a fresh ensemble cast. Among the standout additions is Vidya Balan, who steps into the layered, grey-shaded character of Kantha Kalpak. In an exclusive interview with media correspondent Ankit Singh Tomar, the National Award-winning actress opened up about collaborating with director Nelson Dilipkumar, her admiration for Rajinikanth's simplicity, and a lighthearted incident involving trembling hands caused by smoking on camera.

Why Vidya Balan Picked 'Jailer 2': Nelson's Quirky Wit and a Craving for Grey Shades

Explaining her decision to join the commercial southern franchise despite limited total screen time, Balan highlighted her artistic hunger for unconventional characters:

• Admiration for Nelson's Storytelling: Balan revealed that after watching the original Jailer, she was captivated by Nelson Dilipkumar’s signature cinematic style, praising how he injects sharp humor into the most serious situations.

• Finding Her Place in a Mass Entertainer: When Nelson approached her, Balan admitted she wondered where she could fit into a mass-appeal Rajinikanth canvas, but the sharp dialogue writing and unconventional character design convinced her to sign on immediately.

• Hunger for Complex Roles: Describing Kantha Kalpak as an intriguing, morally grey character, Balan compared it to her prior work as Badi Begum in Raja Shivaji. She noted that rather than staying confined to standard heroic roles, she constantly seeks every shade—white, black, and grey—to challenge herself as an actor.

The Nicotine Rush on Set: Trembling Hands in Front of 'Thalaivar'

Balan shared an incident that caught her off-guard during a smoking scene opposite the superstar:

• Out of Practice Since 'The Dirty Picture': The actress noted that she maintains a clean, smoke-free lifestyle and had not picked up a cigarette since filming The Dirty Picture years ago.

• Sudden Shivering on Take Two: Assuming lighting a cigarette would come back naturally like riding a bicycle, she took an active puff during the scene. The sudden nicotine rush caused her hands to tremble noticeably during the second take.

• Embarrassment Before Rajinikanth: Seeing her hands shake while filming directly in front of Rajinikanth, Balan humorously recalled panicking and asking herself how she would manage the rest of the takes.

• Nelson's Healthy Lifestyle Joke: Director Nelson jokingly remarked that her clean, healthy habits were the real culprit behind the strong reaction. To adjust, Balan lightheartedly resolved to take a test puff early in the morning so her hands would remain steady for the actual take.

Quiet Stardom: Rajinikanth's Humility and Off-Screen Banter With Mithun Chakraborty

Beyond the funny mishaps on set, Balan expressed deep respect for Rajinikanth's demeanor when the cameras stop rolling:

• Entry Without Fanfare: Balan recalled expecting massive fanfare and loud commotion when Rajinikanth stepped onto the set. Instead, she was surprised to see him walk in quietly without an entourage or display of stardom.

• Warmth and Simplicity: The actress noted that the Tamil screen icon carries no pretense, warmly greeting every technician and cast member with a quiet smile before taking his seat.

• Lively Dynamic With Mithun Da: Highlighting the off-camera camaraderie, Balan noted that watching Rajinikanth and veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty share jokes and tease each other was one of the most delightful aspects of working on the production.