Coolie: Who is Soubin Shahir, the actor who stole the show with his electrifying moves in Pooja Hegde’s song

Fans have been astonished and pleasantly surprised by Soubin's exuberant dance moves while she shares the screen with Pooja Hegde.

Even though Rajinikanth's Coolie is unquestionably one of the year's most anticipated movies, Malayalam actor-director Soubin Shahir has unpredictably ignited the internet with his captivating performance in the viral song Monica.

Fans have been astonished and pleasantly surprised by Soubin's exuberant dance moves while she shares the screen with Pooja Hegde.

Soubin's infectious energy and flair in Monica, choreographed by the well-known Master Sandy, has quickly made the song a favorite among fans. New interest in Soubin's background and untapped abilities has also been sparked by the performance.

Soubin was born in Kochi on October 12, 1983, and started his career as an assistant director behind the camera. After making the switch to acting with Annayum Rasoolum (2013), he received a lot of praise for his breakthrough performance in Premam (2015). He even took home the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the 2018 film Sudani from Nigeria.

Soubin has gained recognition over the years for his realistic, grounded performances in movies such as Manjummel Boys (2024) and Kumbalangi Nights. Even so, few anticipated that the reserved actor would light up the dance floor — until now.

As they point out that Soubin's sense of rhythm has always been present, fans have been unearthing old footage of him dancing in earlier movies. Monica wasn't an isolated incident, as evidenced by Soubin's effortless Moonwalk in a well-known old video by Bheeshma Parvam.

"When that shy guy finally decides to hit the dance floor #SoubinShahir #Monica," exclaimed one social media user. Another director who commended Lokesh Kanagaraj for showcasing Soubin's untapped dancing potential: "Soubin was not even examined from a dance point of view by a Malayalam filmmaker. However, Lokesh pulled it out, and Soubin looked amazing on screen.

Soubin has been enjoying all of the fan love that has been showered upon him. Memes, dance edits, and fan tributes abound on his Instagram stories. Soubin humorously accepted the irony of now being acclaimed as a dance icon, alluding to his famous Premam scene in which he tells a fellow teacher that he doesn't know anything simple.

Also read: The night when Rajinikanth compared Coolie to Thalapathi; here's what happened

Rajinikanth plays the lead in Coolie, which was directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. It features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Monisha Blessy, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, and Nagarjuna.

If the excitement surrounding Monica is any guide, Coolie is poised to become a huge pan-India blockbuster when it opens in theaters on August 14, 2025. With Rajinikanth's iconic on-screen persona and Soubin Shahir's stunning dance skills, Coolie is sure to be a memorable film.