'Did I ask you whose fan you are?'- Rajinikanth recalls Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Kamal Haasan remark during first meeting; Read more

As 'Coolie' inches closer to its August 14 release, superstar Rajinikanth is opening up about what drew him to work with director Lokesh Kanagaraj — and adding his trademark humour to the mix. At a recent promotional event, the actor revealed that it was Lokesh’s 2019 hit 'Kaithi' that convinced him the young filmmaker was a talent to watch.Rajinikanth recalled first watching Lokesh’s debut Maanagaram, which impressed him greatly. "It was brilliant. But then, for the next two or three years, there was nothing from him. Many talented directors vanish after delivering one great film, so I stayed cautious," he said. But when 'Kaithi' released, the superstar knew Lokesh was “no one-shot wonder.” Determined to work with him, Rajinikanth said, “I wanted to get him before others could.”In his inimitable style, Rajinikanth shared a lighthearted story from his first meeting with the director. “I asked him, ‘Do you have a subject in mind for me?’ He said, ‘I do, but first I have to tell you I am a Kamal (Haasan) fan.’”The remark amused Rajinikanth, who quipped, “Did I ask you whose fan you are?” The playful moment had both Lokesh and co-star Shruti Haasan — Kamal’s daughter — smiling. Rajinikanth then explained that Lokesh’s comment was his subtle way of asking him to take a more grounded, intelligent approach to the role. Drawing parallels, he said, "I worked in Mani Ratnam sir’s Thalapathi after Nayakan, and in Shankar’s Sivaji after he made Indian — whatever you could do, I could match it too."'Coolie' not only marks Rajinikanth and Lokesh’s first collaboration but also features Nagarjuna in a negative role. Speaking at the event, Nagarjuna praised Rajinikanth’s generosity on set, especially in helping him with Tamil dialogues. With Shruti Haasan in a pivotal role and Lokesh at the helm, the film has already built huge anticipation.