‘Coolie Is 100 Times Baasha’: Nagarjuna At Trailer Launch

Nagarjuna is set to break away from his usual image with Coolie, where he plays a full-fledged antagonist for the first time in his career. The actor, known for his varied but largely positive roles, will be seen in a completely different light in this upcoming multi-starrer.

On Saturday evening, the team of Coolie held a grand audio and trailer launch event in Chennai. The event saw the presence of key cast and crew including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Aamir Khan, Saubin, and director Lokesh Kanagaraj. While the gathering featured several high moments, Nagarjuna’s bold statement stood out.

Introducing his character, Nagarjuna said he plays Simon, a ruthless man with a dark edge. Talking about the film, he said, “This won’t be like Baasha… it’ll be 100 times more intense,” referring to Rajinikanth’s iconic 1995 film. His comment quickly caught attention, hinting at the film’s tone and scale rather than just his character.

Adding to the moment, Rajinikanth spoke about Nagarjuna’s decision to take up a negative role. He recalled a line from Mankatha (released as Gambler in Telugu), written by Venkat Prabhu for Ajith: “How long can I keep playing the good guy?” He said that Nagarjuna has now chosen a similar path, playing the villain for the first time. The crowd responded with cheers, highlighting the impact of the casting.

Nagarjuna’s shift to a villain role is a notable change in his career and has added a fresh layer of interest around Coolie. The film already carries strong buzz due to its star-studded cast and collaboration between major names from across industries.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie is scheduled for a worldwide release on August 14, coinciding with the Independence Day weekend.