Karan Singh Tyagi’s historical courtroom drama, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story Of Jallianwala Bagh, has been earning steady praise and box office success, crossing the ₹40 crore mark since its release. While audiences are captivated by the gripping narrative and strong performances from Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, many are unaware that the film didn’t always carry the Kesari title.

Kesari Chapter 2 director talks about the film's title

Speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, director Karan Singh Tyagi revealed that the film initially had no name and was once tentatively titled Shankara. It was only later that Akshay Kumar proposed tying the film into the Kesari franchise. “We didn’t have a title for the longest time. Then Akshay sir came up with the idea of naming it Kesari Chapter 2. I think it was a great suggestion."

"We unanimously jumped on the idea that Kesari Chapter 2 is indeed the perfect title. For us, Kesari signifies the colour of revolution and a story of valour and bravery of an unsung hero of India. It’s a title that does complete justice to the film and narrative. There are so many stories of unsung heroes in this country that are revolutionary in nature," he added.

Will Akshay Kumar lead all Kesari instalments?

Looking ahead, Karan confirmed that Kesari Chapter 2 is just the beginning of a broader franchise, with Akshay Kumar set to lead all future instalments. “With the title, we’re taking the mantle forward. There will be several of such stories that will bring forth more unsung heroes to the audience. There will hundred percent be more instalments and films in this franchise. And Akshay will spearhead them all. He’s synonymous with Kesari and with stories of unsung heroes and their bravery and sacrifice, and he has done such a remarkable job in this film,” he added.

On his bonding with Akshay and Madhavan

Reflecting on his experience working with screen veterans Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan in his debut film, Karan said, “They put me at ease. I was nervous initially but they’re such wonderful actors and people that they never let that pressure get to me. They broke the ice in our first meeting."

"It has been a dream to work with both of them. I never thought of the expectations of their fans and audience. I was just focusing on the script that we had in front of us. I truly believe that if we take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.”

Karan Singh Tyagi's future project

While Karan may not return as director for the third film in the series, he’s already developing his next collaboration with Karan Johar. “I hope I get the same support from Karan sir for my next film with Dharma as well. I’m still writing it and it’s too early to talk about it. I’ll definitely be doing another film with the same producers – Leo Media Collective and Dharma Productions,” he shared.

For those unfamiliar with Karan’s background, the filmmaker brings a unique perspective to storytelling. Before entering the world of cinema, he earned an LLM from Harvard University and is a qualified member of both the New York State Bar and the Bar Council of India. He has also worked at top law firms in Paris and New York, as reported by Times Now.

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