Is Lokesh Kanagaraj Charging Rs 50 Crore For Coolie? The Director Responds

Rajinikanth's "Coolie," directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is generating immense pre-release buzz. Kanagaraj confirmed his ₹50 crore salary, boosted by "Leo's" success.

Coolie director Lokesh Kanagaraj is charging Rs 50 crore for the Rajinikanth starrer.

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Superstar Rajinikanth’s highly anticipated pan-India film Coolie is generating massive buzz ahead of its theatrical release on August 14. Directed by hitmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film promises to be a cinematic spectacle and a major box office event.

With a star-studded cast, huge expectations, and intense pre-release hype, Coolie is shaping up to be one of 2025’s biggest film releases.

Rumoured Budget and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Paycheck

Speculations around Coolie's budget have been circulating for weeks, with reports suggesting that the film is being made on a grand scale with a budget ranging from Rs 350 to Rs 400 crore. According to those claims, Rajinikanth's salary alone was pegged at Rs 150 crore, while Lokesh Kanagaraj’s fee was said to be Rs 50 crore.

Now, the director himself has addressed the buzz. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Lokesh confirmed: “I can’t talk about Rajinikanth sir’s income. However, the ₹50 crore reported is my wage. This happened as a result of my previous film, Leo. It made over Rs 600 crore, so now I’m getting twice as much as what I made previously."

He went on to say,“I pay my taxes, which allows me to help my friends and family. I have no complaints about the sacrifices I had to make to get to this position; my last two years were fully dedicated to the creation of Coolie, which was my responsibility.”

On Box Office Expectations

With such high stakes, naturally, the pressure to deliver big at the box office is high. Coolie is expected to face a massive clash with War 2, starring Jr NTR and Hrithik Roshan.

When asked if he feels the pressure to make Coolie a Rs 1000 crore grosser, Lokesh responded: “No one should be concerned about the box office results, but the producer, director and actor.”

 

Rajinikanth’s Reaction to Coolie

Lokesh also shared a heartwarming moment with Rajinikanth after the superstar watched the film.

“He (Rajinikanth) hugged me after watching the film in the dubbing studio and said, ‘It looked like Thalapathy for me!’ That made my day and that night I slept peacefully for the first time in months. That’s what I told my close friends, too. If I am making a film with Rajini sir, it must be somewhere close to Thalapathy.”

An Ensemble Cast and Stellar Crew

Produced by Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Pictures, Coolie boasts a powerhouse ensemble including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, Monisha Blessy, and Kaali Venkat. Adding to the excitement, Aamir Khan will also be seen in a cameo role. The film’s music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

With its high-profile cast, intense expectations, and Lokesh Kanagaraj at the helm, Coolie is set to be a defining moment in Indian cinema this year.