South Indian superstar Nagarjuna is stepping into unfamiliar territory with Coolie, the upcoming action film from director Lokesh Kanagaraj, and he’s doing it with serious swagger.
The veteran actor is playing the antagonist in the Rajinikanth-led project, and according to him, the director had a very specific vision. “Lokesh wanted me to walk like a tiger,” Nagarjuna said in a recent interview. “At first, it felt a little strange, but when I saw the footage, I couldn’t believe it was me on screen.”
It’s a bold new look for the actor, who’s known for playing heroic leads in Telugu cinema. In Coolie, he plays Simon — a character he says will come with plenty of “whistle-worthy moments.”
“I’ve spent the last 30 years chasing numbers,” Nagarjuna said, referring to box office figures. “Now, I just want to do the kind of films that excite me. Coolie is one of them.”
Directed by Kanagaraj (Vikram, Leo), Coolie is shaping up to be a massive action entertainer, with a star-studded cast that includes Upendra, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, and Soubin Shahir. There’s also talk that Aamir Khan might join the ensemble.
The film is being made on a massive scale — reports suggest a budget of around ₹375 crore — and it's slated for a global release on August 14, 2025, just ahead of India’s Independence Day. It’ll also be available in IMAX.
This is just one of two big releases for Nagarjuna this year. He’s also starring in Kuberaa, a socio-political drama directed by Sekhar Kammula, alongside Dhanush and Rashmika Mandanna. While Coolie shows him in a darker, more menacing role, Kuberaa will offer something totally different.
“In Coolie and Kuberaa, you’re going to see me in completely contrasting roles. I think fans are really going to enjoy that,” he said.
The actor is also gearing up for his 100th film, which will be officially launched on his birthday, August 29. That project will be directed by Tamil filmmaker Ra Karthik.
Between a fierce walk, a bold villain role, and a major slate of upcoming films, Nagarjuna is clearly in a new phase of his career — and Coolie might just be the film that redefines him for a whole new generation.
Source: OTTPlay