'Coolie' marks Rajinikanth’s 171st film as a lead actor and is Lokesh Kanagaraj’s first project with the superstar.
Published Aug 29, 2024 | 12:04 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 29, 2024 | 5:50 PM
Soubin Shahir in 'Coolie'. (X)
We previously reported that Rajinikanth will collaborate with director Lokesh Kanagaraj on a film titled Coolie. Following the release of an anticipated title teaser, the makers have now announced the cast.
Coolie marks Rajinikanth’s 171st film as a lead actor and is Lokesh Kanagaraj’s first project with the superstar. Produced by Sun Pictures, the film features music by Anirudh Ravichander.
The latest cast addition is Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir, who is making his Tamil film debut.
Known for Kumbalangi Nights (2019) and Manjummel Boys (2024) Soubin will appear alongside Rajinikanth and work with Lokesh Kanagaraj for the first time.
After years of working as an assistant director and showcasing his comedic talent in various films, Soubin demonstrated his versatility by excelling in varied roles.
Soubin debuted in Fazil’s Kaiyethum Dhoorath (2002), but it was his role as a PT teacher in the cult classic Premam (2015) that established him as a notable talent in Malayalam cinema.
Despite a decade of active acting, Soubin remains eager to break away from his previous roles as he takes on new projects.
Touted as a gangster action film, Coolie will feature action sequences choreographed by the renowned Anbariv duo. The film is a standalone project and not part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, which includes Kaithi (2019), Vikram (2022), and Leo (2023).
Filming began in 2024 July, with Girish Gangadharan as the director of photography, and Philomin Raj handling the editing.
Produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, Coolie is slated for a summer 2025 release, though a specific date has yet to be announced.
The next filming schedule for Coolie will be in Hyderabad, with the final shoot expected in Chennai.
Lokesh Kanagaraj, alongside Chandhru Anbazhagan, has written the dialogues and additional screenplay for the film.
The cast of Coolie also includes Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj. The film will be released in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth is awaiting the release of Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel of Jai Bhim (2021)-fame. The film is set to release on 10 October.
