Once branded a 'jinx', Vidya Balan makes Tamil debut with Rajinikanth in Jailer 2

Actress Vidya Balan has opened up about the setbacks she faced early in her career when she was labelled a "jinx" in South Indian cinema, revealing that she was replaced in several films even before shooting began. Nearly two decades later, the National Award-winning actress is making her Tamil cinema debut alongside superstar Rajinikanth in the much-awaited action entertainer Jailer 2, scheduled for theatrical release on October 15.

In a recent interview with SCREEN, Vidya recalled how a series of abandoned projects in Malayalam and Tamil cinema created an unfortunate perception that her involvement brought bad luck. The experience affected her confidence and made her hesitant to accept offers from the southern film industries, even as she went on to establish herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading performers.

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 '𝗷𝗶𝗻𝘅' 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹

Vidya's difficulties began when her proposed Malayalam debut, Chakram, opposite Mohanlal, was shelved during production. The cancellation was followed by other projects falling through, and she found herself being blamed for circumstances beyond her control. The superstition spread across the industry, resulting in her removal from more than a dozen films, including Tamil projects such as Run (2002), starring R Madhavan, and Manasellam (2003), featuring Srikanth.

Reflecting on that period, Vidya said she had always wanted to work in different Indian languages but had become reluctant to pursue opportunities outside Hindi cinema because of those experiences. She acknowledged that maturity had helped her understand that the setbacks were unfortunate coincidences rather than anything connected to her abilities as an actress.

The actress, who identifies strongly with her Tamil heritage, said returning to the industry through a Rajinikanth film was particularly meaningful. She expressed hope that the experience would open doors to more projects across regional cinema, adding that her priority remained finding substantial and rewarding roles.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Vidya also spoke warmly about her experience working with Rajinikanth, describing the veteran superstar as remarkably humble and approachable despite his enormous popularity. She recalled expecting an elaborate arrival when he first appeared on the sets, only to find him walking in quietly and interacting naturally with the cast and crew.

According to Vidya, Rajinikanth's unassuming manner immediately put her at ease. She said he treated everyone on the sets with warmth and respect, regardless of their position, and never made fellow performers feel intimidated by his stature.

The actress also revealed that Rajinikanth was familiar with her humorous social media videos and had complimented her on them, a gesture that helped break the ice during their initial interactions.

𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴

Recalling an unusual experience during filming, Vidya revealed that she struggled while shooting a scene in which her character was required to smoke in front of Rajinikanth. Although she had no hesitation about portraying smoking on screen, the physical effects of nicotine made her hands tremble, creating unexpected difficulties during the sequence.

She explained that the reaction was not caused by nervousness about acting opposite Rajinikanth but by her body's unfamiliarity with nicotine. The situation became more challenging when she tried to steady her hand while performing the scene, particularly because she was required to blow smoke towards the superstar.

Despite the discomfort, Vidya said the experience remained memorable and formed part of her enjoyable collaboration with Rajinikanth.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿-𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Sun Pictures, Jailer 2 is the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer. The film sees Rajinikanth reprise his role as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, the retired jailer whose seemingly ordinary life conceals a formidable past.

Vidya plays Kantha, a character described by the makers as fierce and fearless, with a strong attachment to her family. Details surrounding her role have largely been kept under wraps ahead of the film's release.

The ensemble cast includes Mithun Chakraborty, Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, S J Suryah, Ramya Krishnan, Jackie Shroff, Yogi Babu and several other prominent actors. Anirudh Ravichander has composed the film's music.

Mithun Chakraborty's participation has also attracted attention, particularly after Rajinikanth revealed that his longtime friend initially hesitated to accept an antagonistic role opposite him. According to the superstar, Mithun eventually agreed after seeking an assurance that his character would not be subjected to physical punishment at Rajinikanth's hands.

For Vidya, however, the release carries significance beyond the scale of the production. After years of being discouraged by superstition-driven setbacks, her Tamil debut alongside one of Indian cinema's biggest stars represents a long-awaited opportunity to reconnect with an industry she had once hoped to make her home.