Coolie’s storm puts Nagarjuna on top
Nagarjuna celebrates the historic success of Coolie, praising his collaboration with Rajinikanth. His menacing role as Simon won acclaim, while Telugu audiences drove record-breaking collections both in India and overseas.
Published Date - 17 August 2025, 12:46 PM
Hyderabad: Nagarjuna is relishing the success of Coolie, a film that has not only set the box office ringing but also marked a rare screen partnership with Superstar Rajinikanth. The actor, who played ‘Simon’ the cold-blooded antagonist, has been winning acclaim for his commanding performance.
“The love that Coolie has received across the world has been nothing short of historic,” Nagarjuna said, as the film crossed Rs. 151 crore on its opening day, the highest-ever day-one global gross for a Tamil film.
Interestingly, the Telugu versions contributed heavily to the numbers. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone, the film collected over Rs. 17 crore gross on day one. The trend extended overseas, with the Telugu version bringing in $1.3 million in North America, almost double that of the Telugu version of War 2.
Calling his collaboration with Rajinikanth a milestone, Nagarjuna remarked, “Partnering with Rajinikanth on a film of this scale was an unforgettable experience. From the sets to the theatres, Coolie has been a celebration of legacy and reinvention, records had to break, and they did.”
The actor’s villainous role has been praised for adding intensity to his on-screen clashes with Rajinikanth, creating some of the film’s most memorable moments. With Coolie’s success, Nagarjuna continues his winning streak after Kuberaa earlier this year.
Up next, fans will see him in a different light when his landmark Telugu film Siva returns to theatres in a remastered 4K and Dolby Atmos version.