India, May 5 -- Karan Singh Tyagi's debut directorial Kesari Chapter 2 has been enjoying a gradual growth at the box office. But for the director, these numbers aren't as important as the "longevity of the movie and the love it is receiving". He says, "I have seen videos of people clapping, whistling, hooting, and shouting slogans like 'Inquilab zindabad' with Sankaran Nair (played by actor Akshay Kumar) as he gives his last powerful monologue." However, casting actor Ananya Panday as lawyer Dilreet Gill in the film has drawn some criticism. Point that out, and Karan says he is unfazed: "I believed in her and she believed in me. I was bowled over by her performance in Gehraiyaan (2022). I wanted someone who could convey vulnerability and a steady resolve on screen. She has these qualities in abundance, and she dedicated an entire year to get the diction right." On working with Akshay, Karan insists, "He has shown trust in a debutant like me. He is a remarkable actor and has delivered a performance for the ages." While the film showed lawyer Sankaran Nair filing a case against the British Empire, the records show that (British) General Dwyer had actually filed a defamation case against the lawyer. Ask him about this discrepancy, and Karan says, "The real case went on for months, and we have compressed that into two hours. For this, you have to compress timelines and combine characters. We had the blessings and support of Sankaran Nair's family."...