At the Coolie audio launch, Rajinikanth entertained an eager crowd with stories from the film’s shoot, mixing humour, respect, and candid observations.
Recalling the film’s unusual beginning, he said, “The very first shot was... a dead body. The hero had to garland it. Who would even choose a dead body garlanding as the first shot? If I told Mr SP Muthuraman, he would've fainted right there.”
He also revealed how director Lokesh Kanagaraj kept things unpredictable on set: “There was a very important dialogue in the film. I messed it up a little. I thought they’d definitely do a close-up and take it again, but Lokesh just said, ‘Pack up, sir!’ I asked, ‘What? Pack up?’ He said, ‘The audience will get it, sir, no problem.’”
Talking about on-set surprises, Rajinikanth said that during a break in Vizag, Lokesh called him over just to show him Soubin Shahir’s performance: “He opened his laptop and played a scene… I was blown away! What an actor! Hats off!” He admitted that before shooting began, he had his doubts: “I looked at him and thought, ‘He’s bald and all… How will he fit that role?’ But Lokesh was confident, and after seeing him act, I didn’t say another word.”
The camaraderie extended to the veteran stars. “After such a long time, I got to act and talk with Sathyaraj… it made me really happy,” Rajinikanth shared. He also addressed their past differences openly: “We might have had ideal differences, but personally, nothing against each other. One thing I can say is you can trust those who speak straight from their heart. That’s Sathyaraj.”
On Shruthi Haasan, he recounted how she was cast: “He (Lokesh) told me she’s more interested in acting in my movie than her father's. Apparently, working with her father comes with a lot of tension and no relaxation.” Praising her talent, he promised, “After watching her performance, if Kamal doesn’t say ‘Superb, Shruthi!’, I’ll change my name!”
Coolie, an action thriller, also features Nagarjuna, Upendra, and Aamir Khan, with music by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Girish Gangadharan, and editing by Philomin Raj. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Sun Pictures, the film is set for worldwide release on August 14, 2025.