Lokesh Kanagaraj reveals it was harder to convince Nagarjuna Akkineni to play a negative role in 'Coolie': 'You have to walk the right path…'
Superstar Rajinikanth ’s much-awaited action entertainer Coolie is set to hit theatres worldwide on August 14. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj recently opened up about the casting process for the film and how challenging it was to convince Nagarjuna Akkineni to join the project.
Nagarjuna Akkineni was the tougher one to convince
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lokesh revealed that it was actually more difficult to bring Tollywood star Nagarjuna on board than it was to sign Rajinikanth. “Nagarjuna once asked me how I convinced Rajini sir for Coolie. That’s when I told him that was easy for me—convincing you was harder,” Lokesh shared.
A bold role reversal for Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna is playing the main antagonist in the film—something he has never done before in his career. “Nag sir is playing the antagonist in the film. He has never done it before. I could see sir enjoying himself because good characters have certain boundaries—you have to walk the right path. When it comes to a baddie, you can do whatever you want, breaking the barriers,” Lokesh added.
Lokesh also mentioned that Nagarjuna had some initial hesitation due to the character’s use of foul language in the film. He has been trying to avoid such elements on screen throughout his four-decade-long career. Nagarjuna is particularly eager to see how his family responds to this dramatic shift in his screen persona once the film is released.
About Coolie
Coolie is an action-packed Tamil film with Rajinikanth in the lead. Apart from Nagarjuna, the film also features Kannada actor Upendra Rao, actress Shruti Haasan, Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir , and Sathyaraj in key roles. Pooja Hegde will appear in a special dance number, and Bollywood star Aamir Khan will make a cameo appearance in the film.
Lokesh confirmed that the official trailer for Coolie will be released on August 2. While he chose not to divulge much about the storyline, the director hinted at an intense, high-stakes drama.
Lokesh Kanagaraj is also preparing for his next film 'Kaithi 2', featuring Karthi, from the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). Following that, he is set to collaborate with Aamir Khan for a superhero-themed film.
Nagarjuna Akkineni was the tougher one to convince
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lokesh revealed that it was actually more difficult to bring Tollywood star Nagarjuna on board than it was to sign Rajinikanth. “Nagarjuna once asked me how I convinced Rajini sir for Coolie. That’s when I told him that was easy for me—convincing you was harder,” Lokesh shared.
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A bold role reversal for Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna is playing the main antagonist in the film—something he has never done before in his career. “Nag sir is playing the antagonist in the film. He has never done it before. I could see sir enjoying himself because good characters have certain boundaries—you have to walk the right path. When it comes to a baddie, you can do whatever you want, breaking the barriers,” Lokesh added.
Lokesh also mentioned that Nagarjuna had some initial hesitation due to the character’s use of foul language in the film. He has been trying to avoid such elements on screen throughout his four-decade-long career. Nagarjuna is particularly eager to see how his family responds to this dramatic shift in his screen persona once the film is released.
About Coolie
Coolie is an action-packed Tamil film with Rajinikanth in the lead. Apart from Nagarjuna, the film also features Kannada actor Upendra Rao, actress Shruti Haasan, Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir , and Sathyaraj in key roles. Pooja Hegde will appear in a special dance number, and Bollywood star Aamir Khan will make a cameo appearance in the film.
Lokesh confirmed that the official trailer for Coolie will be released on August 2. While he chose not to divulge much about the storyline, the director hinted at an intense, high-stakes drama.
Lokesh Kanagaraj is also preparing for his next film 'Kaithi 2', featuring Karthi, from the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). Following that, he is set to collaborate with Aamir Khan for a superhero-themed film.
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