Big news, film buffs! Blockbuster maker Lokesh Kanagaraj, the mastermind behind Kaithi, Vikram, and Leo—is back in style, and this time, he is collaborating with none other than Superstar Rajinikanth for the super project Coolie. The movie will hit screens on August 14, 2025, and if you are wondering why there’s so much hue and cry about it, let us explain to you.
From a slew of A-listers to a mind-boggling ₹400 crore budget, Coolie is making waves already. But it was something else that set tongues wagging recently – Lokesh’s forthcoming statement: “I deserve my ₹50 crore salary for this film!” Intrigued? Let’s take a peek into what he said, what Coolie is all about, and why fans are already dubbing it the next big thing in Indian cinema.
Lokesh Kanagaraj Explains Why He Deserves His ₹50 Crore Salary — And Honestly, He's Right
In a recent THR India interview, Lokesh wasn’t afraid to speak bluntly when someone asked him about his huge ₹50 crore salary. And he wasn’t afraid at all.
He added, “Yes, I have earned that money. I’ve worked for two complete years on Coolie, and it’s a ₹400 crore film. I’m paying tax on it too, and this hard work is not only for my family but for my friends as well, whom I hardly gave time to while working on the film.
Come on—when somebody is churning out hits after hits like Lokesh, and investing his soul into a massive project like this, perhaps a ₹50 crore salary isn’t that crazy after all!
What About Rajinikanth and Aamir Khan's Fees?
Of course, the next question on everyone’s mind was—what about Rajini sir’s salary? Or Aamir Khan’s? Lokesh remained classy and didn’t spill the beans. I don’t want to discuss Rajini sir’s salary,” he said, but made one thing certain: working on a ₹400 crore film is not a cakewalk, and whoever wants to take up that sort of responsibility must be suitably rewarded. Fair enough, isn’t it?
What About Rajinikanth and Aamir Khan's Fees?
Of course, the next question on everyone’s mind was—what about Rajini sir’s salary? Or Aamir Khan’s? Lokesh remained classy and didn’t spill the beans. I don’t want to discuss Rajini sir’s salary,” he said, but made one thing certain: working on a ₹400 crore film is not a cakewalk, and whoever wants to take up that sort of responsibility must be suitably rewarded. Fair enough, isn’t it?
Lokesh's Post-Release Strategy: Watch Coolie, Celebrate, Then Disappear to Bali!
Now here’s where it gets more interesting. While most directors are fixated on box office figures and reviews from critics, Lokesh has a different post-release routine altogether.
He revealed, “I’ll watch the three shows of the film on the day of release, we’ll all celebrate that night, and I’m off to Bali the next morning with my school friends. I won’t even inform my team!”
Yes, you heard me. No box office pressure, no media stress. Just positive vibes, buddies, and a beach holiday. Talk about establishing boundaries like a boss!
Lokesh Explains: Only 3 People Should Worry About a Film's Fate
Not everybody on a film set should worry about the box office, says Lokesh. He feels it is primarily the hero, the producer, and the director who take the weight of it. Everybody else can sit back.
“You’re only as good as your last film,” he said. And since Leo was a roaring success, it’s no surprise producers were happy to invest big bucks in Coolie—including Lokesh’s well-earned salary.
Coolie Story Leaked Online: Rajinikanth as an Ageing Smuggler on a Revenge Mission
While the team of Coolie tried their best to keep things hush-hush, a few plot details have surfaced online—thanks to platforms like Letterboxd and Fandango. Here’s the lowdown: Rajinikanth stars as Deva, a former crime lord gold smuggler who’s older but not out yet. He employs stolen technology disguised within old-fashioned golden watches (yes, timepieces!) to reassemble his old crew and rebuild his kingdom.
Things don’t go according to plan, though. His return becomes something else entirely—a crime-sustaining universe of shattered time and avarice. Fandango adds a deeper layer to the story, calling it “a man’s relentless quest for vengeance, shaped by past wrongs, defining his entire existence.” Now we’re really curious to see Rajini in this never-seen-before avatar!
This Time, It’s Not the LCU: Coolie is a Standalone Film
For all those curious fans out there—Is Coolie a part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU)? Nope. Unlike Kaithi, Vikram, and Leo, Coolie is not a part of the LCU.
That doesn’t mean it’s not grand in scale though. In fact, with its larger-than-life characters, emotional depth, and high-stakes action, it very well could be Lokesh’s most ambitious film to date.
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