Few actors in Indian cinema can reinvent themselves with the ease that Nagarjuna does. At 64, when most stars might choose to slow down, he seems to be hitting a new creative stride. His swaggering performance as Simon in Rajinikanth’s Coolie has once again reminded audiences of his ability to command the screen with style and substance.
The film may have had its share of mixed reviews, but ask anyone walking out of the cinema, and chances are they’ll rave about Nagarjuna’s presence more than anything else.
Now, as the applause for Coolie still echoes, the actor is already looking ahead to one of the biggest milestones of his career — his 100th film.
Tentatively titled King 100, the project carries a sense of celebration, both for Nagarjuna and the millions of fans who’ve grown up watching him. Speaking candidly on Jagapathi Babu’s chat show Jayammu Nischayammu Raa, he shared, “My next release will be ‘King 100’.
It has been in the making for the past 6–7 months. Karthik, a Tamil director, narrated the script to me a year ago. It’s a grand film, and we will begin after ‘Coolie’. It’s an action-packed family drama.”
There was also a twinkle of humour when he added, “This time, I am the protagonist in the film.” It was a cheeky nod to his recent run of negative roles, which proved that he isn’t afraid to take risks or play against type.
In fact, it’s this willingness to keep experimenting — even after decades in the business — that makes him stand apart from so many of his peers.
The man tasked with steering King 100 is director Ra Karthik, whose sensitive storytelling in Nitham Oru Vaanam left a mark on audiences. For Nagarjuna, collaborating with younger filmmakers like Karthik shows an openness to fresh voices, while also underlining his belief in cinema that connects across generations.
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As if this milestone weren’t enough, there’s more reason for fans to rejoice. His iconic classic Shiva, the film that redefined Telugu cinema in 1989, is making a grand comeback in 4K this September. For many, it will be a nostalgic reminder of their youth; for younger audiences, a chance to see where the legend of Nagarjuna truly began.
From Shiva to Coolie and now King 100, Nagarjuna’s journey feels like that of an artist who has never stopped evolving. Each role, each risk, each reinvention tells us that for him, cinema isn’t just a career — it’s a lifelong love affair. And as he steps into his 100th film, it’s not just a celebration of his work, but of an enduring bond with the audience that has cheered him on for nearly four decades.
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