Sep 09, 2026 9:52pm IST
P S Mithran on the ‘Sardar 2’ and ‘Mandaadi’ Box Office Clash: ‘It can be a win-win situation’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The sequel to Tamil director P. S. Mithran’s 2022 blockbuster “Sardar” releases tomorrow (September 10), with Karthi returning as the father-son spy duo in “Sardar 2.” In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, Mithran discusses the high expectations from the film and the clash with Soori’s “Mandaadi,” which also hits the screens tomorrow.
After everything that has gone into making it, are you finally ready to let it go and let the audience take over?
Yes, ultimately, that is the only thing that you can do because nothing is in your control from now on. So, like Leonardo da Vinci used to say, ‘Art is never finished, only abandoned.’
Why did the sequel to 2022’s ‘Sardar’ take so long?
I took about a year off after I got married in 2023. “Sardar” was released at the end of 2022, and 2023 became a year for me to unwind. I began work on the sequel in mid-2024 and completed it in a year. After that, delays around OTT negotiations and other factors pushed the release back by another year.
Related Stories
Is this the new reality, where OTT-led decisions affect a film’s release?
OTT platforms are no longer buying films at the rates they once offered. When a film begins, the market may look one way, but by the time it is completed, the situation can be completely different. That leads to prolonged negotiations and creates friction. Estimates around value, demand and timing have become far less predictable.
There are high expectations from ‘Sardar 2’ since the first film was a major hit. Do you feel the pressure?
My second film, ‘Hero,’ was a failure. With my first two films, I experienced both success and failure, so I am prepared for either outcome.
When the first film is a huge hit, how do you ensure a sequel takes the story forward authentically?
It is a very difficult balance to strike. You cannot simply repeat what worked before, but callbacks can be effective. Using familiar elements from the first film—a line, a moment, or a detail—can excite audiences who loved the original. For example, when a later “Terminator” film uses a recognizable callback, it immediately connects with fans. But what matters most is how much further you can develop the central character. You can introduce a new plot, new missions, and expand the story world, but the heart of any sequel is the main character. In “Sardar 2,” I felt there is more depth to explore in Sardar’s character. If a character is loved and has room to grow, then a sequel feels worthwhile.
What do you think of the trend of clashes at the box office, like the one between ‘Mandaadi’ and ‘Sardar 2’?
There is obviously competition, and the idea of a box-office clash creates a lot of drama around films. Sometimes it benefits both releases. When films featuring major stars like Thalapathy Vijay and Ajith clash, fans often turn out in large numbers to show their loyalty and help their film collect more than the other. In that sense, it can be a win-win situation. But often, the moment two films are released, the conversation shifts to which one is better. With the rise of influencers and armchair critics, social media can be manipulated with some “Vitamin C” (cash). Marketing teams may use those channels to promote their films. Hyping your film is fine, but running down another film to do that is not right. I do not support that. I do not see it as ‘Sardar 2’ versus ‘Mandaadi.’ I see it as ‘Sardar 2’ and ‘Mandaadi.’
When two big films release on the same day, is it good for business?
I think it is very good for business. Revenue may be divided, but theaters are likely to be full, which benefits the entire chain. When theaters do well, distributors and producers also benefit and the industry grows stronger. Bringing more money into the market is important. For me, the more the merrier, because if the films are good, audiences will watch both.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.