Akshay Kumar on Kesari Chapter 2 OTT Release: 'This story deserves to reach every Indian home'

Streaming exclusively on JioHotstar starting June 13, 2025, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh follows a successful theatrical run. Featuring prominent performances from Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, the film has garnered accolades for its courtroom drama structure and its examination of a noteworthy yet sometimes disregarded portion of India's colonial past. 

Production and plot

With the production by Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective, the film's producers—Karan Singh Tyagi, Adar Poonawalla, Karan Johar, Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, and Anand Tiwari—brought the film to the big screen.

The plot is about C. Sankaran Nair, a barrister (Akshay Kumar), who faces legal challenges from the British Empire in the wake of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre and seeks accountability for the atrocity.

ALSO READ: Kesari Chapter 2 movie review: Akshay Kumar stands tall in a courtroom drama that refuses to play safe 

Akshay Kumar on playing C. Sankaran Nair

According to Akshay Kumar, who spoke about his character, Kesari Chapter 2 tells the narrative of an exceptional man who decided to stand up against an empire and sacrifice all to bring justice to the victims of one of history's darkest times. The actor found acting as C. Sankaran Nair to be a profoundly humbling experience, demonstrating the power of faith to shake even the most formidable institutions. In addition to being a courtroom drama, this film is an ode to India's tenacity, truth, and defiance. It gives Akshay immense pleasure to announce that this moving drama, which had a successful run in theatres, will be available to an even wider audience beginning June 13 on JioHotstar.

Neville McKinley, portrayed by R. Madhavan, is a pivotal adversary in the courtroom and the lawyer for the Crown. The man he spoke of, Neville McKinley, is multi-faceted, he added; he is both an ardent protector of British imperial interests and an intimidating rival to Akshay Kumar's character. The actor was able to explore the moral dilemmas and brutal truths of colonial power by portraying this multi-faceted figure. Madhavan shared that Kesari Chapter 2 is an engrossing depiction of a historical conflict that was waged not merely with firearms but also with laws, philosophies, and language. He is eager for the audience to witness the unfolding of this intense legal battle.

Ananya Panday on her role as a law student

One of Nair's legal allies, played by Ananya Panday, is a law student. The actor shared, reflecting on her experience, that being part of Kesari Chapter 2 has been an incredibly inspiring journey. When confronted with insurmountable injustice, her character serves as an example of perseverance and optimism. This film masterfully captures the spirit of tenacity and the never-ending search for justice in the wake of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre. She added that the film reminds people of the strength of bravery and collective resistance through this story, which continues to resonate with people today.

The acting, screenplay, and courtroom scenes in Kesari Chapter 2 were all highly praised by critics. The film, which will soon be available on OTT, depicts a watershed event in India's struggle for justice during the colonial era and hopes to attract a larger audience.