Shruti Haasan on Coolie: “It’s a film full of action, but there’s a soul to it”
Shruti Haasan opens up about Coolie, sharing insights on balancing action with emotion, working with Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s clarity, and why this action-packed entertainer still has a soulful core.
Hyderabad: Who can forget Sithara ma’am from Premam? Or Charuseela from Srimanthudu? Years before that, Bhagyalakshmi in Gabbar Singh and Spandana in Race Gurram had already made their place in people’s hearts. And just when everyone thought they had seen all shades of her, Krack brought a surprise: a caring mother who suddenly fights back and later reveals that she was once a police officer who had left the force for her family.
Shruti Haasan has always been an actress who brings freshness to the screen every time she appears. Be it in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi or even in her parallel career as a musician, she chooses roles that stand out. Now, she is back with one of the most talked-about films of the year ‘Coolie.’
In this exclusive conversation with Telangana Today, Shruti talks about why this story is more than just action, how she prepared for her role, and what it felt like to share the screen with some of the biggest names in Indian cinema.
“Coolie is the perfect title”
When asked about her first reaction to the title, Shruti revealed that the name wasn’t finalised when they started shooting.
“Initially there was no title. After listening to the story and seeing the way it shaped up, I felt Coolie was the most apt title. During dubbing, Lokesh was kind enough to show me some parts of the film, and it just fits perfectly,” she said.
Balancing action with emotion
Talking about what struck her the most while filming, Shruti highlighted how her character adds balance to a story filled with high-octane action.
“This is a very testosterone-driven film with so much action and male energy. But the feminine side is equally important. My character brings that balance to the story. Usually, in such films there is a risk of female characters being sidelined, but here every character has its own importance. That’s a Lokesh trademark, each person has an arc. It was nice to bring that feminine soul into a world full of action.”
On working with Lokesh Kanagaraj
Praising the director, Shruti said, “He’s extremely clear about what he wants but is also collaborative. One thing I appreciate about him is that there are no endless discussions on set. Everything is prepared beforehand, so when we come to the set, everyone knows what they are doing. It feels like being in a band where everyone knows their piece and together you make a great song.”
“Being part of this cast was a blessing”
The film’s star-studded lineup includes Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Satyaraj, Upendra, Soubin Shahir and more. For Shruti, sharing screen space with such names was a surreal experience.
“I feel very blessed. To be on set and listen to Rajni sir talk about his early days in cinema was something I had to pinch myself about. Not just as my father’s (Kamal Haasan) daughter but as an artist, being there was very special. Everyone brought something unique. Upendra sir is such a huge star in Karnataka yet so humble. Soubin sir is a splendid actor with a unique following. Satyaraj sir, who I’ve known since childhood, plays my father in this film. And Nagarjuna sir, I’ve known him for years, and I genuinely believe he’s the template for what a gentleman should be. This is his first negative character and from what I’ve seen, the Telugu audience is going to love it.”
Her preparation for Coolie
Unlike films where physical preparation is key, Shruti’s focus was different this time.
“A lot of people ask me if I have taken action in this, but no. The preparation here was all about conversations with the director to understand the character arc. She is a big part of the emotional core of the film.”
Is there a twist in her character?
Fans of Lokesh’s earlier films know that many of his characters carry hidden shades. When asked about this, Shruti said, “That’s a good question. Lokesh always writes multi-dimensional characters. But in this film, my character Preeti is very straightforward. What you see is what you get.”
Balancing music and films
Along with acting, Shruti is also a musician. When asked how she managed both during Coolie, she explained, “From the beginning, Lokesh made it clear that this film would need me to work with a lot of actors, including Rajni sir. So, I made it a priority to focus completely on the film during that period.”
What the audience can expect
Before signing off, Shruti summed up what viewers can expect when they step out of theatres after watching Coolie: “It’s going to be very entertaining. There’s a lot of action, a lot of fights, but at the heart of it, there’s a soul. That’s what I loved about it.”
Shruti also hinted at more projects on the way, saying, “I will announce my next film soon.”
