Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Aug 5: Telugu superstar Nagarjuna, who plays the antagonist in director Lokesh Kanakaraj’s upcoming action thriller ‘Coolie’, revealed at a recent pre-release event that the film was completed well within its budget, with a remarkable Rs 5 crore left unspent.

Speaking about the film’s production, Nagarjuna lauded Lokesh’s efficiency and clarity, sharing an anecdote from their last shooting schedule in Bangkok:

"When we were shooting there, Lokesh told me, 'Sir, they gave me so much budget. We still have Rs five crore left. We have finished the film.' That’s fantastic — such a big film finished under budget."

Nagarjuna also highlighted Lokesh’s unique working style, mentioning his use of a six-camera setup and the fact that many scenes were captured in just one take. Watching the cut version, Nagarjuna was impressed by his own performance despite portraying a negative character:

"I thought, ‘Have I acted so well?’ It was a positive experience. Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Soubin, and Upendra all acted wonderfully."

‘Coolie’, headlined by Superstar Rajinikanth, is one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year, slated for release on August 14. Industry rumors suggest the film may premiere in over 100 countries, making it a major global event.

The film boasts a star-studded cast including Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Shruti Haasan. The music is composed by Anirudh, marking his fourth collaboration with Lokesh Kanakaraj, while Girish Gangadharan handles cinematography and Philomin Raj is the editor.

Notably, ‘Coolie’ reunites Rajinikanth and Sathyaraj on screen after nearly 38 years — their last film together was the 1986 Tamil hit ‘Mr Bharath’, where Sathyaraj played Rajinikanth’s father. Interestingly, Sathyaraj had declined roles in some of Rajinikanth’s previous blockbusters like ‘Enthiran’ and ‘Sivaji’.

The film’s plot centers around gold smuggling, and director Lokesh Kanakaraj has clarified that ‘Coolie’ is a standalone film and not connected to his popular Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU).

With the combined star power and Lokesh’s track record, fans have high expectations for ‘Coolie’ as it gears up for a grand global release.