Rajinikanth’s upcoming action entertainer Coolie is already creating waves in the trade circuits, even before its release. The film has reportedly received massive offers for its overseas theatrical rights, with bids surpassing ₹80 crore. If finalized, this would mark the biggest overseas pre-release deal in Tamil cinema history, overtaking previous record-holders like 2.0, Jailer, and Leo.
The film’s overseas rights are still in the process of being finalized, but the strong interest reflects the enormous anticipation surrounding the project. Sources indicate that an official announcement regarding the distribution deal is expected soon.
In a strategic move, the makers of Coolie are placing a sharper focus on the Telugu-speaking states rather than the Hindi belt. This approach stems from the recent trend where Tamil biggies like Jailer and Leo performed exceptionally well in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, outperforming their collections in the Hindi circuit. With this in mind, the Coolie team is eyeing a Telugu distribution deal in the range of ₹40–50 crore, a significant number by regional standards.
Interestingly, the film also features Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, whose pan-India appeal could balance out the focus between the South and Hindi markets. His inclusion may help strengthen the film’s performance in North India, potentially uniting both linguistic circuits on equal footing.
However, Coolie may face stiff competition from YRF’s War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr, and Kiara Advani. Although primarily a Hindi film, War 2 is expected to have a major Telugu release, banking on the enormous popularity of NTR Jr in the region. This could pose a challenge to Coolie’s dominance in the Telugu states.
The ensemble cast of Coolie adds further weight to the film’s appeal. Alongside Rajinikanth and Aamir Khan, the film features major stars like Nagarjuna, Upendra, Sivakarthikeyan, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, and Pooja Hegde — ensuring strong traction across multiple regions and fan bases.
With immense pre-release buzz, strategic market targeting, and an all-star lineup, Coolie is shaping up to be a pan-India box office juggernaut, with the potential to set new records both at home and overseas.
