Rajinikanth's Jailer 2 is just two days away from its October 15 worldwide release, and the buzz is enormous. But Hindi-speaking fans hoping to watch the dubbed version at their nearest PVR INOX or Cinepolis multiplex are in for a surprise: the two chains are not screening the Hindi version, because of a dispute over how quickly the film will move to streaming.
What is the dispute about?
National multiplex chains require Hindi films, including Hindi-dubbed versions of South Indian films, to stay exclusively in theatres for eight weeks before they appear on an OTT platform. According to reports, Sun Pictures, the studio behind Jailer 2, has struck a deal with a major streaming platform that would bring the film online in all languages within about four weeks of its theatrical debut.
That gap is the problem. PVR INOX and Cinepolis are not willing to play a Hindi film that will be available at home in half the usual time, so the Hindi version will miss their screens. Reports suggest the Tamil version could face similar restrictions at some theatres in North India.
Makers confirm Hindi version is still releasing
Amid early reports that Jailer 2 would skip a Hindi theatrical release altogether, the makers issued a clarification. They said the Hindi version is scheduled to release in theatres on Thursday, October 15, alongside the other language versions, and asked the media not to spread unverified information. Pen Marudhar Entertainment is distributing the film in North India.
So the film will be in Hindi cinemas, just not in the two largest chains. Viewers can watch it at Miraj, Wave, MovieTime, independent multiplexes and single-screen theatres.
| Film | Jailer 2 |
| Release date | October 15, 2026 (Thursday) |
| Lead | Rajinikanth as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian |
| Director | Nelson Dilipkumar |
| Producer | Sun Pictures |
| Languages | Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada |
| Certificate and runtime | UA 16+, about 165 minutes |
| Hindi distributor | Pen Marudhar Entertainment |
| Not screening Hindi version | PVR INOX, Cinepolis |
Advance booking is already huge
The multiplex row has done little to slow ticket sales. According to Sacnilk figures reported on October 13, Jailer 2 had collected about Rs 38.09 crore gross in domestic advance bookings across four days, or Rs 33.10 crore without blocked seats, from roughly 19.84 lakh tickets across 19,675 shows in 397 cities. The opening day alone accounted for about Rs 21.75 crore.
Tamil makes up the lion's share at about Rs 33.95 crore, with Telugu at around Rs 3.58 crore. Chennai leads the cities with about Rs 12.35 crore, followed by Bengaluru at roughly Rs 4.27 crore. Kerala, where Mohanlal's presence in the franchise is a big draw, is also tracking strongly.
How to check where the Hindi version is playing
- Open your ticketing app and search for Jailer 2.
- Choose the Hindi language filter for your city.
- Look for shows at Miraj, Wave, MovieTime, independent multiplexes or single screens.
- If you only see Tamil or Telugu shows nearby, check single-screen cinemas, which often add shows closer to release.
Why this fight matters
The clash is part of a bigger tug-of-war in Indian cinema. Multiplex chains want long theatrical windows so audiences keep coming to cinemas. Producers, especially in the South, increasingly sign shorter OTT deals because streaming money is guaranteed and large. The first Jailer released in Hindi and other languages in 2023 and earned about Rs 618 crore worldwide, so losing the biggest Hindi chains is a real hit to the sequel's North India potential.
How Jailer 2 performs in Hindi without PVR INOX and Cinepolis will be watched closely by the entire industry. A strong showing in single screens and smaller chains could encourage more producers to take the shorter-window route.
What fans can expect from the film
Jailer 2 brings back Rajinikanth as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, now living quietly as a car driver, and introduces SJ Suryah as a new character, Bodhi Kalpak. The film has a strong Hindi-industry connection too, with Vidya Balan and Mithun Chakraborty in the cast, which made the Hindi market an important part of its plan. The trailer dropped on October 5, and the makers skipped a traditional audio launch in favour of a long interview with the cast and crew.
What next
Talks between the makers and exhibitors could still produce a last-minute deal, but for now the Hindi version opens without the two biggest chains. The first-day box office numbers on October 15 and 16 will show whether Rajinikanth's star power can make up the difference.
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