Aamir Khan recently made headlines after reports claimed he called PVRInox head Ajay Bijli to request premium showcasing of Coolie across India. The actor, who appears in a cameo in the upcoming action-drama, has now denied the speculation through his production company, which clarified that neither Aamir nor his team contacted any exhibitor or distributor, and that he has no involvement in the film’s distribution.
According to the statement, Aamir agreed to do Coolie purely as a friendly gesture towards director Lokesh Kanagaraj and superstar Rajinikanth. While rumours of him making calls to influence the film’s screen allocation spread widely, a source confirmed that Aamir has no financial stake in the project, making the claims unfounded.
Even though the matter has not turned into a major controversy, some believe the buzz may have been a marketing tactic to boost Coolie’s presence nationwide. The film is set to release on August 14 alongside War 2, and both big-budget productions will arrive in multiple languages, making the division of screens a major challenge for theatre chains.
Given Aamir’s long-standing relationship with Yash Raj Films and Aditya Chopra, it is unlikely he would risk his reputation by acting against their interests. However, with Rajinikanth’s popularity in North India not translating into huge theatre turnouts in recent years, the Hindi belt response to Coolie remains uncertain.
The final outcome will largely depend on audience word of mouth once the films hit screens. With both Coolie and War 2 expected to run close to three hours, competition for attention and occupancy will be fierce, and only August 14 will reveal which film wins the box office battle.
