Vidya Balan was nervous smoking in front of Rajinikanth, reveals Jailer 2 director

Actor Vidya Balan needed around three takes to get a cigarette-smoking scene with Rajinikanth right in Jailer 2, director Nelson Dilipkumar has revealed. The filmmaker recalled how the actress's nerves got the better of her while filming the sequence on her very first day on set, particularly because it required her to blow smoke into the superstar's face.Speaking at a promotional event, Nelson said Vidya was initially apprehensive about playing a character strong enough to stand her ground against Rajinikanth. The scene, which features in her trailer for the upcoming film, proved to be a test of her confidence.During the Jailer 2 show, Nelson recalled, "The scene shown in Vidya ma'am's trailer was the one we had to shoot on the first day. Hers is a powerful character who stands opposite Rajinikanth sir. However, she said she was scared to play such a strong character. When I told her to smoke a cigarette and blow the smoke into Rajinikanth sir's face, her tension doubled."The director also shared an amusing detail about watching the sequence unfold on the monitor. Vidya's visibly shaky hand caught his attention, making him briefly doubt whether the shot would work. "When we were taking the shot, I looked at the monitor. Ma'am was holding the cigarette and shaking her hand as if she were applying lipstick. At that moment, I thought this wasn't going to work. It was only on the third take or so that we got it right. Even now, when you watch the scene, you can see a little tension in ma'am's eyes," Nelson said.The scene eventually came together after a few attempts, offering a glimpse of the dynamic between Vidya's character and Rajinikanth's Tiger Muthuvel Pandian. The filmmaker's anecdote also highlights the challenge of portraying a formidable character opposite one of Indian cinema's biggest stars, especially on the first day of filming. The sequel brings Rajinikanth back as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, the retired jailer introduced in Nelson's 2023 blockbuster Jailer. The upcoming film also features Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, Mirnaa and Rithvik, among others.Jailer 2 is scheduled to release in theatres on October 15.- Ends