Rajinikanth’s Coolie Telugu Rights bids at Rs 44 Crore

The Telugu theatrical rights for Rajinikanth’s much-awaited action drama “Coolie”, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, have been sold for a staggering Rs 44 crore, setting a new benchmark for Tamil dubbed films in the Telugu market. The deal, finalized after a fierce bidding war among top Tollywood producers, underscores the massive anticipation surrounding the film, slated for a grand release on August 14, 2025.

According to industry sources, prominent distributors such as Sithara Entertainments’ Naga Vamsi, Asian Sunil, Dil Raju, and even actor-producer Nagarjuna, who plays a pivotal role in the film, were in the race to secure the Telugu rights.

One of these producers reportedly clinched the deal with a bid of Rs 44 crore, outpacing competitors.

Sun Pictures yet to make it official

Backed by Sun Pictures, “Coolie” is a high-octane action entertainer set against the backdrop of gold smuggling, featuring a star-studded cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, and a cameo by Aamir Khan.

The film’s Telugu appeal is amplified by Nagarjuna’s significant role, rumored to be a powerful antagonistic character, and Rajinikanth’s proven box office pull in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where his previous hit Jailer performed exceptionally well.

The Rs 44 crore deal surpasses previous records for Tamil dubbed films, with Suriya’s Kanguva fetching Rs 25 crore, Vijay’s Leo at Rs 20 crore, and Jailer at Rs 17 crore.

However, trade analysts note that “Coolie” needs to gross over Rs 100 crore in the Telugu states to break even for distributors, a challenging yet achievable target given the film’s pan-India hype and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s directorial brand. The film’s music, composed by Anirudh Ravichander, has already created a sensation, further fueling anticipation.

Coolie vs War 2

Complicating the box office scenario is “Coolie”’s clash with “War 2,” starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, set for the same release date. This showdown, particularly in Telugu states where NTR enjoys a massive fanbase, adds risk to the investment. Despite this, distributors remain confident, banking on Rajinikanth’s mass appeal and the film’s multi-regional star power.

With pre-release business soaring—overseas rights reportedly sold for Rs 68-80 crore and digital rights to Amazon Prime Video for Rs 120 crore—”Coolie” is poised to be a landmark release.