Coolie, starring superstar Rajinikanth, is one of the most anticipated films of 2025 and is set to hit theatres on August 14.
In a recent interview, director Lokesh Kanagaraj shared some interesting insights into how he makes movies—especially action films like Coolie.
Unlike most directors who first write a full story and then plan the action, Lokesh does it the other way around. He first imagines big action scenes and then builds the story around them. This approach, he says, suits action films better and helps him create more impactful sequences.
Lokesh gave the example of Leo, where the action scenes were planned four years in advance. His team remembered those details so well that they often reminded him about small changes.
When asked about Leo 2, director Lokesh Kanagaraj shared his personal preference:
“I’m actually more excited about Master 2 than Leo 2. I love seeing Vijay anna as JD — that character still feels incomplete to me. I’ve already shared the idea for Master 2 with him.”
“While everyone wants Leo 2, I personally want to revisit JD. I have a solid plan for it, and Vijay knows it too. I really think there’s more story left to tell for JD, and I’d love to bring that vibe back on screen.”
For Coolie, he had already envisioned four major action scenes, and he was excited to finally bring them to life. Lokesh believes every action sequence must match the story and the actor.
He said Rajinikanth couldn’t play Kamal Haasan’s Vikram role, and Kamal wouldn’t fit in Coolie, because the action is tailored specifically to each actor’s style.
Lokesh was clear that Coolie wouldn’t take years to complete like RRR. Instead, Coolie will be finished in just 6 to 8 months.
To make that possible, he requested all actors to avoid other commitments and not change their looks during the shoot. Even though he usually avoids making such requests, the actors agreed.
He shared an example of actor Soubin Shahir, who plays a key role in the film. Lokesh told him the role required multiple looks and a busy schedule, so it was best to avoid other projects.
Soubin respected the request and even cancelled 6–7 film offers to stay focused on Coolie.
