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

Coolie promises a blend of intense performances, poignant storytelling, and unadulterated action.

Coolie, starring Rajinikanth and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is creating a lot of buzz nationwide just one month before its big theatrical debut. The action-packed entertainer, which stars Rajinikanth, is expected to be one of India's most anticipated releases of 2025.

The Kaala star and Lokesh Kanagaraj, the director of contemporary blockbusters like Kaithi, Master, and Vikram, are working together for the first time. Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj are among the film's outstanding cast members; Aamir Khan makes an unexpected cameo.

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj recently talked candidly about a heartwarming moment he had with Rajinikanth during the film's dubbing session in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.

"He hugged me after we watched the movie in the dubbing studio and remarked, 'It reminded me of Thalapathi!'" That brightened my day," Lokesh said.

"After many months, I finally slept soundly that night." More than just a compliment, Rajinikanth's remark that Coolie was like Mani Ratnam's classic 1991 film Thalapathi marked a turning point in Lokesh's life.

"It must be near Thalapathi if I'm working on a movie with Rajini sir. Even though I am not as brilliant as Mani sir, hearing Rajini sir say those words felt like a victory.

It's interesting to note that Lokesh first proposed to Rajinikanth a fantasy movie. The idea needed a lot of pre-production time, even though the superstar approved it.

"I enjoyed writing for Rajini, sir. He immediately said "yes" when I wrote a fantasy movie for him. However, it would have taken more than a year to set it up," the director revealed.

Coolie, a stylish yet grounded action movie that still gives Rajinikanth the moments of mass appeal that fans want, began to take shape at that point. At its core, Coolie is still a Rajini Sir movie, despite my attempts at new styles and techniques. I had no desire to alter that.

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Coolie promises a blend of intense performances, poignant storytelling, and unadulterated action. The excitement is increased by the fact that choreographed songs like "Monica," which features Pooja Hegde and Soubin Shahir, have already gone viral.

Fans are eagerly awaiting Coolie's August 14, 2025, release date. With the support of Rajinikanth, the vision of Lokesh Kanagaraj, and a strong cast, this movie is sure to be a box office hit and may even become one of Rajini's all-time favourites.