Rajinikanth Confirms Padayappa Sequel ‘Neelambari: Padayappa 2’ Ahead Of 75th Birthday

As the iconic Tamil film Padayappa celebrates its 25th anniversary, superstar Rajinikanth has officially confirmed that a sequel is in the works. The 1999 blockbuster, which starred Rajinikanth alongside

Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya, is set to return to theatres, while fans eagerly await the next chapter of the legendary story.

Directed by K. S. Ravikumar, Padayappa went on to achieve cult status over the years, largely driven by Ramya Krishnan’s unforgettable portrayal of Neelambari. At the time of its release, the film emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil film, setting new benchmarks for the industry.

To mark the milestone, Rajinikanth released a 37-minute video sharing memories from the film and its unprecedented impact. Recalling the craze around the release, he said, “In my 50 years of career, I had never seen women breaking gates to watch a film as they did for Padayappa.”

என் திரை வாழ்வில் படையப்பா மிகவும் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்தது. அந்தப் பட நினைவுகள் சிலவற்றை உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்துக் கொள்கிறேன். #Padayappahttps://t.co/bHMT39f1Wh pic.twitter.com/pRaPmOE5Mv

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) December 8, 2025

Confirming the long-awaited sequel, the superstar added, “Now, when I see sequels like 2.0 (sequel of Robo) and Jailer 2, I wonder why not Padayappa 2? The title will be Neelambari: Padayappa 2. We are discussing the story, and if it comes out well, much like Padayappa, there will be a Neelambari. It will be exciting for the audience, and I’m working on it.”

Film Returns to Theatres on Rajinikanth’s Birthday

Rajinikanth also revealed that Padayappa holds special emotional value for him, as it was released in the 25th year of his career. He shared that working on the film alongside close friends made the experience even more memorable. Highlighting his commitment to theatrical viewing, he stated, “We didn’t give the film to any OTT or satellite. I only allowed Sun Pictures to run it. It’s the kind of film that’s meant to be watched in theatres. And now, 25 years later, you will see Padayappa on December 12, my birthday.”

The re-release is expected to draw massive footfalls, especially from fans eager to relive the cinematic spectacle on the big screen.

On the work front, Rajinikanth was last seen in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie (2025), which featured Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and others in key roles, along with a special extended cameo by Aamir Khan.

The 74-year-old superstar is now gearing up for Jailer 2 (2026), directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, while simultaneously developing the story for Neelambari: Padayappa 2.