Chennai – Superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is rewriting box office records even before its release on August 14. Featuring a high-profile cast including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and a special appearance by Aamir Khan, the film has generated unprecedented anticipation worldwide.
Overseas Pre-Sales Surge Past $5 Million, Domestic Demand Strong
By Saturday, Coolie’s international advance bookings had already crossed $4 million (around Rs 33 crore), according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The momentum accelerated over the weekend, with global pre-sales hitting $5 million (approximately Rs 42 crore) by Sunday. Combined with India’s Rs 14 crore pre-sale tally, the film’s worldwide advance bookings have now surpassed Rs 50 crore.
ALSO READ: Malayalam actor Shwetha Menon faces legal battle over alleged obscene content
Tamil Version Leads, Hindi Picks Up Pace
The original Tamil version dominates with Rs 9.98 crore in advance bookings, followed by strong numbers from the Telugu and Kannada versions. The Hindi dubbed version has so far sold 2,500 tickets across 400 shows, with trade experts predicting a surge in the final days before release.
In India, Coolie is on track to break the highest advance booking record for a Rajinikanth film, currently held by Jailer at Rs 18 crore. It is also aiming to surpass the all-time Tamil cinema record set by Leo at Rs 46 crore.
Overseas, the film’s Rs 41 crore tally has already outpaced Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life, making Coolie one of the most in-demand Indian releases internationally. Industry analysts believe the film could register one of the biggest openings in Indian cinema history — and potentially the largest day-one collection of Rajinikanth’s career.