Nagarjuna: “My Role in Coolie Is Almost Like a Hero”
Superstar Rajinikanth’s highly anticipated film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is all set to hit theatres on August 14. While the trailer has received a mixed response, pre-release ticket sales in the USA are breaking records. Many believe that Lokesh intentionally kept major highlights out of the trailer to preserve surprises for the big screen.
At the Telugu pre-release event held in Hyderabad, veteran actor Nagarjuna, who plays the antagonist in Coolie, shared his experience and excitement about the role. Speaking candidly, Nagarjuna said: “When Lokesh began narrating the story, I found it immediately engaging. The first thing I asked him was whether Rajinikanth Garu had agreed to the script—because my character was so powerful, it almost felt like a hero’s role.”
He further added, “Lokesh always gives his villains strong characterizations. Just like Fahadh Faasil and Vijay Sethupathi in Vikram, even supporting roles like Agent Tina had tremendous elevation. I was truly impressed with how well he develops antagonist roles.”
However, Nagarjuna’s comments sparked a buzz online. While many fans appreciated his excitement, some netizens felt the remarks could be misinterpreted as self-promotion, especially since similar statements about his role in Kuberaa previously led to trolling.
Despite the online chatter, one thing is clear: Coolie is generating massive curiosity, not just for Rajinikanth’s performance, but also for how Lokesh Kanagaraj has shaped Nagarjuna’s character.

