“I Made Lokesh Work for It”: Nagarjuna Embraces His Dark Side in Coolie

Mumbai was buzzing with cinematic energy as Coolie's star-studded team—Nagarjuna, Anirudh Ravichander, and Shruti Haasan—unveiled the film’s music album ahead of its grand release. But it was Nagarjuna’s playful revelation that stole the spotlight: “I made Lokesh work for it,” he said, referring to director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s determined effort to convince him to take on a full-blown antagonist role.

 

In Coolie, Nagarjuna sheds his charming hero image and dives deep into villainy—something fans haven’t seen before. “I had to make sure I was doing the right thing playing a baddie,” he shared. It wasn’t an easy yes, taking Lokesh nearly nine meetings to seal the deal. But once committed, Nagarjuna went all in—and came out loving every minute of it.

 

He also had high praise for co-star and Tamil icon Rajinikanth. “His charisma and aura were just really great. He helped me with Tamil dialogues and guided me,” he said, reflecting on the camaraderie that blossomed on set. Despite playing the film’s darkest character, Nagarjuna claimed he walked away with a surprisingly positive experience.

 

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, Coolie boasts an ensemble that reads like a who's who of Indian cinema—Rajinikanth, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan, and more. With music by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Girish Gangadharan, and editing by Philomin Raj, this is one film that promises to hit hard.

 

Releasing worldwide on August 14, Coolie is shaping up to be a high-octane, star-packed spectacle—with a deliciously villainous twist from Nagarjuna.

 

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