Superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming action thriller 'Coolie' is already making waves at the North American box office, surpassing his previous blockbuster 'Jailer' in advance ticket sales ahead of its August 14 release.
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj's highly anticipated film has collected an impressive USD 1.12 million through advance bookings in North America, with premiere day sales alone reaching USD 969,551 from over 37,000 tickets sold. This milestone has officially beaten the USD 948,000 record previously held by 'Jailer' during its 2023 premiere shows.
The remarkable numbers are particularly striking considering that advance bookings haven't even opened at one of the region's largest cinema chains yet, suggesting the final tally could climb significantly higher as the release date approaches.
'Coolie' boasts an ensemble cast that reads like a who's who of Indian cinema. Telugu superstar Nagarjuna takes on his first-ever villain role as the character Simon, a casting choice that has generated considerable excitement among fans. Speaking about the role, Rajinikanth revealed his own fascination with the character, admitting he initially wanted to play Simon himself.
"The biggest attraction is Nagarjuna as Simon," Rajinikanth said at a recent promotional event. "After listening to the subject, I wanted to play the role of Simon. I like playing villain roles."
The film also features Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and veteran actor Sathyaraj, marking a reunion between Sathyaraj and Rajinikanth after 38 years since their last collaboration in 'Mr Bharath' (1986). Adding to the star power is Bollywood icon Aamir Khan in a much-hyped cameo role as Dahaa.
Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for acclaimed films like 'Kaithi', 'Master', and 'Vikram', has created significant intrigue around 'Coolie's' plot. The recently released trailer has sparked numerous fan theories suggesting the film incorporates sci-fi and time travel elements, particularly due to a striking scene featuring Rajinikanth's younger face morphed into a photonegative image.
However, Kanagaraj has remained cryptic about these speculations. "Everyone is calling it a sci-fi film and a time travel film. People are going to be surprised when they see what the film is really about," the director teased at a pre-release event.
'Coolie' is set for a massive box office showdown with YRF's 'War 2', featuring Hrithik Roshan, Jr. NTR, and Kiara Advani under Ayan Mukerji's direction. Interestingly, early advance booking figures show 'Coolie' significantly outperforming 'War 2' in North America, despite the latter having 400 more shows scheduled.
Behind the cameras, the film brings together a proven technical team including music composer Anirudh Ravichander, cinematographer Girish Gangadharan, and editor Philomin Raj. Produced by Sun Pictures, 'Coolie' represents Rajinikanth's 171st film and promises to be a standalone venture outside Lokesh's Cinematic Universe.
With such impressive pre-release numbers and mounting anticipation, 'Coolie' appears poised to deliver another box office triumph for the Superstar when it hits theaters on August 14.
