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R Madhavan plays antagonist Neville McKinley in Kesari: Chapter 2, opposite Akshay Kumar. Producer Karan Johar praised Madhavan’s transformation.
R Madhavan plays Neville McKinley in Kesari: Chapter 2.
R Madhavan played the menacing Neville McKinley, a lawyer pitted against Akshay Kumar’s Sankaran Nair in Kesari: Chapter 2. He takes on the role of an antagonist, a British-educated Indian lawyer drawn into the moral chaos of colonial rule, proving his loyalty to the British crown by standing against Nair, fighting in the court of law after the brutality of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Producer Karan Johar lauded Madhavan’s versatility and shared behind-the-scenes glimpses of how he transformed seamlessly into his character.
Madhavan’s Neville McKinley is based on an amalgamation of ten real-life lawyers brought in to counter Sankaran Nair. That only deepens the complexity of his character. The actor took on the challenge and is receiving great reviews for his portrayal. In a recently released behind-the-scenes video, director Karan Singh Tyagi and producer Karan Johar offered a rare and compelling look into the making of Madhavan’s character transformation in the film.
“When the character ‘Neville’ was written, we needed a solid actor, a solid antagonist to combat the protagonist — and we all know that ‘Maddy’ Madhavan is an absolutely outstanding actor,” said producer Karan Johar, highlighting the weight of the role. “He walked around like a tiger,” Tyagi recalled, speaking about Madhavan’s on-screen presence on his very first day on set. The BTS video, shared on social media, is captioned:“Every stare, every silence, every decision — crafted to leave a mark. Here’s a glimpse into how Neville McKinley, the face of fear, was created.” Take a look:
R Madhavan’s landmark performance in Kesari: Chapter 2 comes in at a meaningful time. It marks his 25 years in Indian cinema. From playing Maddy in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein to pushing boundaries in the critically-acclaimed Hisaab Barabar, Netflix cricket drama Test, and his most-awaited biopic on the visionary inventor GD Naidu and Aap Jaisa Koi, the actor’s filmography is no less than than a testament to his versatility and commitment to meaningful cinema.
