As the countdown is closing in for the release of Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie, the lead cast and crew of the film have been attending press meets and giving interviews for the massive reach of the film. In an exclusive conversation with Cinema Express, Junior MGR, who plays a supporting role in the film, opened up about getting the role in the film and his first interaction with Rajinikanth.
Junior MGR says he was supposed to be a part of Lokesh Kanagaraj-Kamal Haasan's Vikram and then Vijay's Leo, both of which didn't happen. "As it was Kamal sir who recommended my name to Lokesh Kanagaraj for Vikram, they would have offered an important role to me. But as half of the film's shoot was completed by then, Lokesh was hesitant to give me an extremely insignificant character. He then promised me a role in Leo, but that also didn't materialise."
The actor, who is a friend of Lokesh, also asked him about the opportunities he was promised. "When I asked him about it, he said that he wanted to give me a role in Rajini sir's film, as it was Kamal sir who recommended me. He asked me if I was okay with any role. I said that even if I could run in the background in a scene in the film, I would be okay."
Even then, Junior MGR did not receive a call from the production house until the film's second schedule. "Even after all this, I did not get a call for Coolie until the first schedule of the film was over. But when the Vizag schedule began, I was roped in for the film. I couldn't believe my eyes when I first stepped foot into the sets of the film. "
Having gone on the film's sets, the actor says his first confrontation with Rajinikanth is indeed a memory for a lifetime. "Lokesh introduced Kanna Ravi, Rishi and me to Rajini sir at the same time. Rajini sir looked at me and said, 'Hey, you used to be on the heavier side. How did you become like this?' To which I told him that I reduced weight for the film. He immediately said, 'Hey, vera level. You will go places. It was a blessing to just hear that from Rajinikanth sir."
On how it felt to watch Rajinikanth in action, he shared, "Every single scene in Coolie featuring Rajini sir is a hit. In fact, you should see him walk down from his caravan. Even if you just shot it on your phone, it would resemble a movie scene."
Also starring Sathyaraj, Soubin Shahir, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and cameo appearances from Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde, the film is all set to hit theatres on August 14.
