Kesari Chapter 2 Premiere Moves Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Earns Rave Reviews
Ahead of its theatrical debut on April 18, 2025, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh has received glowing early feedback following a special screening in New Delhi. The historical courtroom drama, featuring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, profoundly touched attendees, including political leaders and industry figures, with its depiction of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre and its legal aftermath.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, visibly moved, posted on X in Hindi, describing the film as a powerful ode to patriotism that gave her goosebumps. She praised its vivid portrayal of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, noting its tribute to countless unsung martyrs. Gupta congratulated Kumar, Madhavan, and the Kesari Chapter 2 team, expressing gratitude to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for the screening invitation.
Puri, also sharing his thoughts on X, hailed the film as a stirring cinematic tribute to India’s freedom struggle and the Jallianwala Bagh martyrs. He commended Kumar’s performance as lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, who battles the British Raj in court to reveal the truth behind the massacre. Puri attended the premiere with his wife Lakshmi, alongside Gupta, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj, and senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur.
Entrepreneur Rahul Sharma, married to former actress Asin Thottumkal, took to X to call the film’s raw depiction of the tragedy breathtaking, surpassing historical accounts. He praised Kumar and Madhavan’s performances, suggesting the film deserves a National Award.
Telugu actor-producer Rana Daggubati, who viewed the film earlier, posted his review on X on April 12, 2025. He described Kesari Chapter 2 as a compelling and vital historical drama that deeply connects with Indian audiences, announcing plans to release the Telugu-dubbed version through his production house, Suresh Productions.
Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Aruna Bhatia, and Adar Poonawalla, Kesari Chapter 2 draws from The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. The film centers on advocate C. Sankaran Nair (Kumar) as he challenges the British Crown in court to seek justice for the massacre. Madhavan portrays advocate Neville McKinley, with Panday as Dilreet Gill, joined by Regina Cassandra, Simon Paisley Day, Amit Sial, Steven Hartley, and Alexx O’Nell.
A spiritual sequel to the 2019 film Kesari, which portrayed the Battle of Saragarhi, Kesari Chapter 2 is generating significant buzz with its emotional depth and strong early reviews, as reported by ANI and other media outlets covering the premiere.