Rajinikanth is always the first to arrive on Coolie Set, reveals Director Lokesh Kanagaraj

Coolie is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Tamil films, not only because it stars the legendary Rajinikanth in the lead role but also because it brings together an exciting mix of talent both in front of and behind the camera. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this marks his first collaboration with Rajinikanth and features a star-studded cast that includes Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj. A standalone project outside of Kanagaraj's famed Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), Coolie is set to be an action thriller and is currently in production, with a release scheduled for the summer of 2025.

Known for his high-profile directorial ventures such as Vikram (2022), starring Kamal Haasan, and Master (2021) and Leo (2023), which both starred “Thalapathy” Vijay, Kanagaraj recently shared an interesting insight about working with multiple stars in a film. According to the director, despite the challenges, multi-starrer films are actually easier to manage than they might seem. This, he explained, is because all the actors on set maintain a deep respect for each other, ensuring discipline and delivering strong performances.

"Rajini sir is the first one to reach the set, even before me sometimes. If it’s a 9 o’ clock call sheet, he will be there by 7.15 to 7.30. I might reach only by 7.45 or 8, but he makes sure he’s there before 7.30,” he said in a chat with a media outlet. Initially titled Thalaivar 171 and produced by Kalanithi Maran under the banner of Sun Pictures, the film’s official title was announced in April, along with a teaser showing Rajini taking on his rivals while singing the song “Siva Sambo” from his 1979 film Ninaithale Inikkum, in which he co-starred with Kamal Haasan".

Lokesh also noted that Kamal and Vijay share Rajinikanth’s commitment to punctuality, ensuring they never hold up the shoot. He said “Kamal sir and Vijay anna are also like that. Even if you ask them to come a bit late, they won’t. They want to be punctual because every day won’t be the same. They might get stuck in traffic or something. They don’t want to take any such chance. They are like, ‘You do your process, but I will come at my time.’ So, when you know Rajini sir is already there at 7.30, the other stars don’t want to make him, a legend, wait. Multi-starrer films are actually more disciplined: everybody arrives on time, they know their lines and are ready for improvisations."

Coolie, which was initially referred to as Thalaivar 171 before its official title was revealed in April 2024, is already generating a buzz, particularly with a teaser that showcased Rajinikanth in action, singing "Siva Sambo" from his 1979 film Ninaithale Inikkum. Produced by Kalanithi Maran under the banner of Sun Pictures, Coolie is expected to be a major hit, with Rajinikanth’s dedication and discipline setting an inspiring example for the entire cast and crew.

With the film still in production and slated for release in 2025, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be another thrilling chapter in Rajinikanth’s illustrious career.