Rajinikanth’s Update on Padayappa Sequel

Sequels are becoming a trend in Indian cinema. Padayappa, known as Narasimha in Telugu, is one of those films that still has strong recall even after many years. Released in 1999, it shaped Rajinikanth’s mass image and became a big favourite among fans and audiences. With that impact, the idea of a sequel naturally creates interest.

Ahead of Rajinikanth’s birthday on December 12, Padayappa is getting a re-release. In a special video, Rajinikanth shared how the film was made, looked back at key moments from the shoot, and revealed an update on the potential sequel.

He said the story idea was his own, and he produced the film using his friends’ names. He was inspired by the Nandini character from Ponniyin Selvan and discussed it with director KS Ravikumar. The title Padayappa came to him soon after.

Rajinikanth confirmed that Padayappa 2 is being discussed. The sequel is tentatively titled Neelambari, and work on the story has begun.

Rajinikanth said the team first approached Aishwarya Rai for Neelambari, but she was not interested. Ramya Krishnan later joined, and though he was unsure at first, he later felt she was perfect for the role.

After release, the film received a huge response, and even former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa watched it after hearing discussions about the Neelambari character.

On the work front, Rajinikanth is now shooting Jailer 2 with director Nelson. This year also marks his 50th year in cinema, and he was honoured recently at IFFI 2025 for the milestone.