Shamna Kasim has expressed her gratitude to director Nelson Dilipkumar, Sun Pictures and composer Anirudh Ravichander for giving her the opportunity to be part of Jailer 2. The actor, who makes a dance cameo in the Rajinikanth-starrer, took to social media on Friday to share her excitement about being associated with the film and thanked audiences for their response to her appearance.
For Shamna, being part of a Rajinikanth film was a special experience, given her longstanding admiration for the Superstar. The actor spoke about how she had never expected to find herself sharing screen space with one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated stars, making the opportunity particularly meaningful. She also mentioned Padayappa among her favourite films featuring Rajinikanth.
“Everyone would like to share screen space with a style icon such as Rajinikanth sir. I never thought that I would have that opportunity,” Shamna revealed while mentioning Padayappa as one of her favourite films of the Superstar.
Her appearance in Jailer 2 comes as part of Ala Bolelo, a special song featuring several performers, including Rajinikanth and Malayalam actor Suraj Venjaramoodu. The sequence also brings together a large ensemble of background dancers, making it a prominent musical set piece in Nelson’s action entertainer.
Shamna Kasim credits Nelson for the opportunity
Shamna revealed that she had been waiting for Jailer 2 to release before speaking about her experience. She wanted to see how audiences responded to the song and then come forward to express her appreciation. With the film now reaching viewers in theatres and her appearance attracting attention, the actor shared her happiness about being included in such a large-scale production.
She was particularly thankful to Nelson, who recommended her for the song. According to Shamna, the director played an important role in making the opportunity possible, and she was keen to acknowledge his contribution.
“I must thank Nelson sir a lot, because he pitched me for the song,” the actor revealed.
The cameo also gave Shamna the chance to be part of a project headlined by Rajinikanth, an actor whose screen presence has inspired generations of performers and fans. While a brief appearance in a film of this scale might seem like a small addition to an actor’s filmography, Shamna’s comments suggest that the experience carried considerable personal significance.
She also acknowledged the contributions of Sun Pictures and Anirudh, who are associated with the film’s production and music. Her message was as much an expression of gratitude to the people who brought her into the project as it was a response to the audience’s reception.
Actor says audience response makes the experience special
For Shamna, the most rewarding aspect of the experience has been watching audiences embrace the song in theatres. She admitted that she had not anticipated being able to participate in a musical sequence of this scale, especially one that would become part of a major Rajinikanth release.
“I never thought that I would be able to do such a good song for three minutes in a big project such as this,” the actor added.
Her remarks also reflected a sense of fulfilment at seeing her efforts translate into an experience that audiences appear to be enjoying. Shamna spoke about the importance of perseverance and belief, describing the response to her Jailer 2 appearance as a moment when years of effort and dedication seemed to be paying off.
“We all say that our hard work, prayers, and passion would pay off one day. I am going through such days,” the actor added before attributing her Jailer 2 success to the audience’s warm reception.
The response to Ala Bolelo has given Shamna another reason to celebrate her association with the film. Beyond the opportunity to appear alongside Rajinikanth, the cameo has allowed her to be part of a theatrical experience that brings together music, dance and the scale associated with Nelson’s commercial entertainers.
Jailer 2 reunites Nelson and Rajinikanth following the success of their 2023 collaboration, Jailer. The sequel features a wider ensemble, with the filmmaker once again combining action, humour and musical sequences. For Shamna, however, the significance of the film remains personal: an opportunity she never expected, a director who put her name forward, and an audience whose response has made the experience even more memorable.