Director Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for his intense dedication to his craft, has revealed the profound impact that working on "Coolie," starring Rajinikanth, had on his life. In a recent interview, he shared that the project consumed him entirely for two years, leading to a temporary disconnect from his friends and family.

Lokesh described his experience working with Rajinikanth as transformative. He was deeply moved by the veteran actor's life stories and experiences, which prompted him to reflect on his own life. "I can't even begin to explain what that man made me feel like," Lokesh said. "He made me realise (things), he made me think about life, made me cry (in a good sense), made me laugh…". He added that Rajinikanth's wisdom and life journey made him feel insignificant in comparison.

The director also recounted an incident where veteran actor Sathyaraj, after watching Rajinikanth's performance in "Coolie", praised him as someone who truly embodies a hero, rather than just acting like one. This admiration from a peer with nearly four decades of experience working alongside Rajinikanth highlights the immense respect the superstar commands in the industry. Lokesh was taken aback by Rajinikanth's humility just before filming commenced. According to Lokesh, Rajinikanth confessed, "Lokesh, I don't think I'm a great artist". Despite this, Lokesh maintains that Rajinikanth is a phenomenal actor.

Lokesh Kanagaraj has officially wrapped up the highly anticipated action entertainer 'Coolie'. He shared his feelings about completing the film by saying, "IT'S A WRAP FOR #COOLIE. What an incredible experience it has been traveling with @rajinikanth sir, @iamnagarjuna sir, @nimmaupendra sir, #SathyaRaj sir, #SoubinShahir sir, @shrutihaasan, and the entire team. Will forever cherish this amazing experience".

"Coolie" is shaping up to be an action-packed entertainer, with Rajinikanth reportedly playing a character with negative shades. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra Rao, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj. There are also rumors of a special cameo by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. Nagarjuna, who plays the main antagonist Simon, described his experience as "liberating". He said that he was intrigued by the script and that Lokesh allowed him to bring a charming villainous quality to the role.

"Coolie" is not part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) and revolves around gold smuggling. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music, Girish Gangadharan is handling the cinematography, and Philomin Raj is the editor. The film is produced by Kalanithi Maran's Sun Pictures. A major highlight is the reunion of Sathyaraj and Rajinikanth, who last shared screen space in the 1986 superhit 'Mr. Bharath'.

"Coolie" is scheduled to hit theaters on August 14, 2025, coinciding with Independence Day weekend.