Coolie Budget Details Out: Rajinikanth, Lokesh Kanagaraj Paid Record Salaries, Says Report

Coolie Budget: The upcoming Tamil action thriller Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and headlined by Rajinikanth, has reportedly emerged as one of the costliest films ever produced in the Tamil film industry. According to information revealed in a recent Pinkvilla report, the film's overall budget stands at ₹375 crore, including production, salaries, and promotional costs.

Produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner, Coolie began production in July 2024 and completed filming by mid-March 2025. The shoot took place across multiple locations such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Bangkok. The project was officially announced in September 2023 under the working title Thalaivar 171, with the final title being revealed in April 2024.

The reported ₹375 crore budget includes ₹350 crore for production and talent compensation, and an additional ₹25 crore set aside for print and publicity. A large portion of this budget is attributed to the lead actor and director. Rajinikanth is said to have received ₹150 crore as an upfront fee-placing him among the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema. Meanwhile, director Lokesh Kanagaraj has been paid ₹50 crore, which marks a record figure for a director in Tamil cinema.

The remaining ₹150 crore covers the cost of mounting the film, which includes sets, action sequences, visual effects, and payments to the rest of the ensemble cast. The cast features several prominent names, including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, and Monisha Blessy. Pooja Hegde is set to appear in a special song, while Aamir Khan is reportedly making a cameo.

Strong Pre-Release Recoveries Ease Theatrical Pressure

Despite its large budget, Coolie appears to be on a strong financial footing before release. The film has reportedly earned ₹130 crore through digital rights, ₹90 crore from satellite deals, and ₹20 crore from music rights. This adds up to ₹240 crore in non-theatrical revenue, reducing the burden on theatrical recovery to ₹135 crore. The financial details, while not officially announced by Sun Pictures, have been reported by Pinkvilla based on insider sources.

With music by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Girish Gangadharan, and editing by Philomin Raj, Coolie is scheduled to release in both standard and IMAX formats on August 14, 2025. As the release date approaches, industry watchers are keenly observing how this high-budget film will perform at the box office.