‘Jana Nayagan’: Lokesh Kanagaraj confirms cameo in Vijay’s film

During a press conference on Monday (January 26, 2026) in Chennai, filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj confirmed that he has a cameo in superstar Vijay’s much-awaited final film, Jana Nayagan.

“H Vinoth (director) anna and Vijay anna called me, and I have done a cameo in that film. But that’s all I can say for now,” said Lokesh, who worked with Vijay in Leo in 2023.

Jana Nayagan was scheduled to release in theatres on January 9 earlier this month but was postponed at the last minute as the Central Board of Film Certification refused to issue a censor certificate to the film.

While Lokesh refused to speak about the troubles that Vijay’s actioner has been facing with the censor board, he opened up about his previous film, Rajinikanth’s Cooliegetting an A certificate. “The CBFC suggested almost 35 cuts and 9 mutes. I was quite worried because those 35 cuts would disrupt the narrative. That wouldn’t have been a complete film. So we had to choose between a complete film with an A certificate and an incomplete film with a U/A certificate,” said the director, adding that they decided to go to the revising committee after discussions with Rajinikanth and the producer.

“But even the revising committee once again suggested 35 cuts. In fact, they argued that Coolie was an A certificate film even thematically. We were nearing the release of the film, and I didn’t want to do any of the cuts. Keeping all this in mind, we spoke to Rajini sir, and then we decided. Because getting an A certificate as opposed to a U/A would already incur losses of up to Rs 40-50 crores. However, Sun Pictures and Rajini sir gave me the freedom to do what’s necessary, and I chose to have a complete film with an A certificate,” Lokesh said.

Also starring Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir and Shruti Haasan with cameos by Aamir Khan and Upendra, Coolie was released in theatres on August 14 last year.