Rajinikanth’s 'Coolie' becomes one of India’s costliest films with a budget of ₹375 crore

Lokesh Kanagaraj’s 'Coolie,' starring the legendary Rajinikanth, is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited films in Indian cinema. The high-octane action thriller boasts a star-studded lineup including Nagarjuna, Aamir Khan, Upendra, and Pooja Hegde. With the film’s release slated for August 15, excitement among fans and industry insiders is reaching a fever pitch. Behind the scenes, the film is backed by a massive budget, reflecting the scale and ambition of the mega-budget film.

Record-breaking budget and salaries highlight film’s grandeur

A source close to Pinkvilla reveals that 'Coolie' is being made on an estimated budget of ₹350 crore, covering everything from star salaries to production costs. Rajinikanth is reportedly receiving an unprecedented ₹150 crore upfront fee, making it one of the highest paychecks ever awarded to an actor. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj is also commanding a record ₹50 crore, setting new benchmarks in the industry. The remaining ₹150 crore is allocated to production expenses and payments for the rest of the ensemble cast. An additional ₹25 crore has been set aside for print and publicity, bringing the total investment close to ₹375 crore.

Strong pre-release deals Make 'Coolie' a low-risk blockbuster

Financially, 'Coolie' appears to be a relatively low-risk venture thanks to strong pre-release deals. Digital streaming rights have reportedly been sold for ₹130 crore, satellite rights fetched ₹90 crore, and music rights contributed another ₹20 crore. Together, these non-theatrical earnings amount to ₹240 crore, meaning the film needs to recover only ₹135 crore from box office collections to break even.

Multi-language release poised for pan-Indian success

'Coolie' is planned for a wide release across multiple languages including Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi on August 14, 2025. With its star power, high production values, and strategic pre-release deals, the film is poised to be a major blockbuster that caters to audiences nationwide.


Check out our list of the latest Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada movies. Don’t miss our picks for the best Hindi movies, best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films.