Rajinikanth watched his film Jailer 2 with fans in a Chennai theatre on Friday night, reportedly the first time he has done so in 40 years. The Tamil superstar made his way to PVR Cinemas at Phoenix Mall in Velachery quietly, and the fans who saw him were left stunned.

A video clip released by Sun Pictures showed the superstar being received by a small group of people at the mall. Music director Anirudh was among those who greeted him. He was then escorted to the theatre, where he was seen enjoying the film alongside the audience.

Box office numbers keep climbing

The film is on course to break box-office records. Its collections have already crossed the Rs 500-crore mark. Director Nelson Dilipkumar’s Jailer 2, which stars Rajinikanth in the lead role, has emerged as a major blockbuster.

The response has not come only from ticket buyers. The film has earned praise from critics, audiences and celebrities across the country, and the reactions have poured in from several industries.

Bollywood reacts from the theatre

Bollywood star Riteish Deshmukh posted about the film on X during the interval. He wrote that it was a maha blockbuster and that Rajni sir’s aura was on another level. He urged his followers to watch it and called it HUKUM, TIGER KA HUKUM.

After the film ended, Deshmukh posted again. His second message was just as loud, and it described the mood inside the hall better than any review could.

“B L O C K B U S T E R! Had such a great outing !!! I have clapped, whistled and cheered at every entry- it was a celebration in the theatre – superstardom thy name RAJNI sir ….” — Riteish Deshmukh

Kamal Haasan and Dhanush add to the chorus

Earlier, actor, producer and parliamentarian Kamal Haasan had congratulated his friend Rajinikanth after Jailer 2 emerged as a worldwide hit. In a congratulatory post on X, written in Tamil, he praised Rajinikanth, director Nelson Dilipkumar, music composer Anirudh and the Sun Pictures team.

Nelson Dilipkumar replied quickly. He thanked Haasan for his kind words and said that coming from a legend like him, the praise meant a lot.

National Award-winning actor, director and producer Dhanush watched the film on its first day, first show. He was among the first to congratulate the team. He called Jailer 2 a must watch and said it was a feast for every Thalaivar fan.

Directors and cast members weigh in

Several other leading actors and directors have also congratulated the team on the film’s success. Director Lingusamy wrote that, in Rajinikanth’s 51-year journey, Jailer 2 is the film that has truly made the most of his aura, especially in the first half. He said he could keep watching it over and over again and called the second half a bonus.

Director Venkat Prabhu called the film simply fire and congratulated Rajinikanth, Nelson Dilipkumar and Anirudh. He described the experience as whatta experience.

Director Karthik Subbaraj also watched the film on its first day. He wrote that Thalaivar sets the screen on wild, wild fire and that he could not take his eyes off him. He praised the writing, the execution and Anirudh’s high-octane music. He also pointed to the cast, naming Mithun, Mohanlal, Nimma Shivanna, Vidya Balan, Hrithik Roshan and S.J. Suryah as part of one film.

Actors Vishnu Vishal and Soori, and producer Nagavamsi, were among others who watched the film on its first day and expressed their excitement.

Why the theatre visit is drawing so much attention

For a star of Rajinikanth’s scale, a visit to a public cinema is a rare event. The reported first time in 40 years is what has turned a single screening into a talking point. Fans who have followed his career for decades now have a moment they can point to.

The mix of a box-office run past Rs 500 crore, a stream of congratulations from across film industries, and a surprise appearance at a mall multiplex has given the story its pull. Each piece of it invites people to share, argue and watch the film for themselves.

The Sun Pictures clip, the praise from peers and the numbers on the box office all point in the same direction. Jailer 2 is not just a hit on paper. It is a film that has made a superstar step back into the crowd, and that is the image people are sharing.