April 3, 2025: Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and other cast members of the much-anticipated film Kesari: Chapter 2 launched the trailer at a grand event in the national capital on Thursday. The trailer, which offers a gripping glimpse into the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, has already captured the attention of audiences with its powerful visuals and intense courtroom drama.
During the event, Akshay Kumar opened up about a key moment in the film’s teaser where his character uses a curse word, “F*** You.” When asked about his decision to use such language, Akshay justified it passionately, explaining that the abuse from the British in the form of calling Indians “slaves” was far worse than any curse word he used in the film.
“Haan maine yeh word use kiya. Lekin voh jo word usne use kiya tha (for Britishers in the teaser) ‘You are still a slave!’- was that not a gaali for you? I think usse bade gaali aur kuchh ho nahi sakti (I think there can be no bigger abuse than this). I would have been happy if you had said something about using the word ‘slave’ rather than you talking about me saying f**k you,” Akshay said during the press conference.
The actor further emphasized that even if the response at the time had been more violent, such as shooting the Britishers for calling Indians slaves, it would have been a “lesser” reaction in his opinion. “Mere hisaab se agar aise time pe hum logon ne goli bhi maar di hoti na toh bhi chhota rehta (According to me, if at that time we would have shot them, it would have also been a small response),” he added.
The trailer launch event itself was a star-studded affair, with not only the lead actors but also producer Karan Johar, Ananya Panday, director Karan Singh Tyagi, Apoorva Mehta, and Amritpal Bindra in attendance.
The event was made even more poignant by the presence of the family members of C Sankaran Nair, a courageous lawyer who challenged the British colonial regime in a legal battle for the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Kesari: Chapter 2 takes place in the aftermath of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919, and follows the legal fight for justice. Akshay Kumar portrays the character of C Sankaran Nair, while R Madhavan plays Neville McKinley, a lawyer defending the British Crown. The film builds a tense courtroom showdown between the two characters, dramatizing the legal battle for justice against the oppressive British Empire.
The trailer showcases haunting visuals of the massacre, its aftermath, and the courtroom tension, promising an emotional and powerful cinematic experience. The film is set to hit theaters on April 18, 2025, and promises to deliver a hard-hitting narrative that brings India’s struggle for independence to the forefront.