Rajinikanth’s next big thing, Coolie, is already causing a stir, nabbing a massive ₹42 crore for its Telugu theatrical rights, according to CineJosh. That’s a record for a Tamil dubbed film in the Telugu market, and it’s no surprise given the hype around this Lokesh Kanagaraj-directed gangster flick. Set to hit screens on August 14, 2025, with a hefty ₹350 crore budget from Sun Pictures, Coolie is shaping up to be a monster hit, even with War 2 looming as box office competition.
The film’s got a killer lineup, with Rajinikanth playing a tough-as-nails character—word is, he’s Deva, tangled in a gold smuggling story. He’s joined by Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and even Aamir Khan popping in for a cameo, making this a proper pan-India party. The Telugu rights, snapped up after a tug-of-war between six big Tollywood players, show just how much faith the industry has in Coolie’s pull, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where Rajinikanth’s Jailer raked in over ₹90 crore back in 2023.
Fans are losing it over the pre-release buzz. A 100-day countdown video dropped on May 6, 2025, giving us Rajinikanth strutting against a Thalapathi-style sunset, with Nagarjuna and Upendra adding to the vibe. Anirudh Ravichander’s “Coolie Power House” track is pure fire, and X posts are buzzing—some even say the Telugu deal might’ve hit ₹43 crore. Money-wise, this film’s playing in the big leagues: Rajinikanth’s reportedly pocketing ₹150-280 crore, Lokesh is banking ₹50 crore, overseas rights went for ₹80 crore, and OTT rights sealed a ₹120 crore deal, beating 2.0’s ₹110 crore record.
For the Telugu version to break even, it’s got to pull in ₹75-80 crore, which feels doable with Rajinikanth’s star power and Lokesh’s hot streak from Vikram and Kaithi. But it’s not all smooth sailing—Coolie’s going head-to-head with War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, on Independence Day. Still, with Nagarjuna’s Tollywood cred, Lokesh’s slick direction, and Rajinikanth’s larger-than-life presence, Coolie could own the southern markets.
With filming done in March 2025 and post-production in full swing, fans are counting down to see Thalaivar light up the screen. Come August 14, Coolie might just rewrite the box office rulebook. Buckle up—this one’s going to be a wild ride.