Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ Set for August 14 Release, Ignites Box Office Showdown with ‘War 2’

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the action-packed thriller features a star-studded cast including Nagarjuna and Shruti Haasan, with cameo appearances by Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde, as it prepares for a global release in multiple languages.

Superstar Rajinikanth is poised to return to the silver screen with his 171st film, Coolie, an action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Scheduled for a worldwide release on August 14, 2025, the film is set to coincide with India’s Independence Day celebrations. This release date sets up a significant box office clash with the much-anticipated Bollywood sequel War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR .

Produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner, Coolie boasts a high-profile ensemble cast. Alongside Rajinikanth, the film features Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, and Shruti Haasan in pivotal roles. Adding to the excitement, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and actress Pooja Hegde are reported to make special cameo appearances .

The film’s music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, marking his fifth collaboration with Rajinikanth. The cinematography is handled by Girish Gangadharan, and editing by Philomin Raj. The storyline revolves around the gold smuggling mafia, promising a gritty and intense narrative. Notably, Coolie is a standalone project and does not connect to Lokesh Kanagaraj’s previous cinematic universe .

The teaser for Coolie is expected to be released soon, with reports suggesting a launch on director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s birthday, March 14 . A recently released 100-day countdown teaser has already stirred excitement among fans, recreating iconic moments from Rajinikanth’s earlier films .

With its star-studded cast, compelling storyline, and strategic release date, Coolie is poised to be a major cinematic event in 2025. Fans eagerly await the showdown between this Tamil action thriller and the Bollywood heavyweight War 2.