Coolie: Lokesh Kanagaraj's remuneration for Rajinikanth starrer makes heads turn

Fans have been anticipating the Coolie trailer with great anticipation as the release is only a few weeks away.

Coolie, which is quickly emerging as one of the most anticipated Indian films of 2025, has Lokesh Kanagaraj giving it his all. The action thriller, which has a staggering budget of Rs. 350 crore, stars Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Aamir Khan, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, and other top actors.

Lokesh Responds to Pay Rumours of Rs. 50 Crore

Lokesh Kanagaraj recently addressed the widely circulated rumour that he is charging Rs. 50 crore to direct Coolie in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The subject was not avoided by the filmmaker. Rather, he responded in a straightforward and assured manner, attributing the pay increase to his prior achievements.

"You might ask me about my Rs. 50 crore remuneration, but it stems from the fact that my last film, Leo, did very well at the box office," Lokesh said, referring to the popular film that brought in Rs. 600 crore. My compensation was naturally doubled as a result. I am putting in a lot of effort to earn every penny in this supply and demand field.

Confirmed Coolie Trailer Date

Fans have been anticipating the Coolie trailer with great anticipation as the release is only a few weeks away. Lokesh disclosed that to prevent giving away too much, he is limiting the amount of promotional content he releases.

He confirmed that the trailer will be released less than two weeks before the movie's theatrical debut, saying, "All I wanted to deliver was one trailer, and the date is August 2."

Rajinikanth vs. Nagarjuna: The Final On-Screen Battle

Nagarjuna Akkineni recently revealed some details about his part in the movie, which heightened the anticipation. The veteran actor confirmed that he plays the main antagonist and said he will face Rajinikanth in dramatic scenes.

"I had a lot of scenes with Rajinikanth, sir, as the main antagonist. "It's him against me," Nagarjuna revealed. "Being different from what I've done so far, this was a fun experience."

Also read: Adolescence actor Owen Cooper becomes youngest ever Emmy Awards nominee at the age of 15

There's Going to Be a Box Office Conflict

On August 14, 2025, Coolie will be released in theatres, but it won't be the only big release on that day. It will face off against War 2, another well-known action movie with NTR Jr. and Hrithik Roshan. This Independence Day weekend is looking to be a huge one for Indian cinema, with both films predicted to have a significant impact at the box office.

With a stellar cast, high hopes, and Lokesh Kanagaraj leading the charge, Coolie appears to be a must-see movie.