Coolie: Rajinikanth calls Lokesh Kanagaraj the Rajamouli of Tamil cinema, says he wanted to play Simon

Coolie: Rajinikanth calls Lokesh Kanagaraj the Rajamouli of Tamil cinema, says he wanted to play Simon

Excitement is soaring as Coolie's grand release approaches in just ten days. The action-packed drama, which stars Rajinikanth and was directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is scheduled to be released in theaters on August 14, 2025. The Superstar shocked fans at a recent Telugu press conference by revealing his admiration for co-star Akkineni Nagarjuna in a unique video message that was completely in Telugu.

Rajinikanth said in the message that he was so captivated by the antagonist's role, Simon, when director Lokesh Kanagaraj first described it that he asked to play it himself. However, Lokesh had already seen Nagarjuna in the role. "I was taken aback at first," Rajinikanth remarked. “I will bring him on board at any cost,” Lokesh assured me. In the same video, Rajinikanth compared Lokesh to Rajamouli and said, "Just like how Rajamouli is for Telugu cinema, Lokesh is for the Tamil film industry. He is very talented..."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Telugu FilmNagar (@telugufilmnagar)

After 33 years apart, Nagarjuna and Rajinikanth are back together.

After more than thirty years apart, Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna are reunited in the movie. The superstar lavished Nagarjuna with praise, praising the veteran actor's youthful appearance and physical fitness. Rajinikanth claimed that he even asked Nagarjuna for his secret, saying, "He looks the same as he did all those years ago." Nagarjuna gave credit to his self-control, regular exercise, wholesome diet, and "a few good genes from my dad."

Read more: Jolly LLB 3 first look unveiled: Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi reunite for court room battle, teaser drops tomorrow

However, Rajinikanth was genuinely impressed by Nagarjuna's performance. He acknowledged, "I honestly feel I couldn't have done it better because he played Simon so brilliantly." Their admiration and respect for one another has only increased the buzz about the movie.

A Cast and Crew Packed with Power

Upendra, Aamir Khan, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, and Soubin Shahir are among the ensemble cast members of Coolie. With music by Anirudh Ravichander and support from Sun Pictures, the movie promises to be a full-length cinematic extravaganza.

As fans eagerly await its premiere, Coolie is notable not only for its scope and star power but also for the friendship and warmth shared by two of Indian cinema's most enduring icons.