Shruti Haasan has once again opened up about her experience working with superstar Rajinikanth in Coolie, this time in a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia on his podcast. Shruti, who stars in the Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial alongside the legendary actor, recalled how the film shoot helped her see a more personal side of someone she had only known from afar.
In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Shruti had revealed that she “never really knew Rajinikanth” before collaborating with him on Coolie, despite the long-standing camaraderie between her father, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth. She noted that her interactions with Rajinikanth were previously limited to “cordial formalities” and that she only truly got to know him on set. “All artistes need motivation, and when it comes from someone so legendary, it makes all the difference in the world,” she had said then, appreciating his warmth and generosity on set.
Adding to that, in her latest chat, Shruti elaborated on what it was like to truly meet the man behind the icon. “Appa (Kamal Haasan) and he (Rajinikanth) are the two iconic pillars of Tamil cinema. I always knew him through the lens of the public, like everybody else. People assumed I’d grown up around him, but that’s not the case. Just as he is a superstar to everyone else, he is a superstar to me too. I only knew him through my dad’s stories until now,” she shared.
Working together gave her an opportunity to witness his personality firsthand. “He’s such a unique mix, sharp and shrewd, but also warm and easy to talk to. I even told him, ‘You’re actually really cool,’ because he is. He doesn’t carry the weight of his stature. He brought this really good, positive energy to the set, and everyone was genuinely happy to be around him.”
Also starring Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Sathyaraj, with cameo appearances by Pooja Hegde and Aamir Khan, Coolie is set to hit the screens on August 14.
