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Coolie is a 2025 Tamil-language action thriller featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Aamir Khan in a cameo role. The main theme centres around a former coolie union leader who stands against a corrupt syndicate exploiting port workers. The film was released worldwide on August 14, 2025. This 170-minute film is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. Music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, reuniting with Lokesh Kanagaraj once again; the score includes three notable singles, "Chikitu," "Monica," and "Powerhouse." The dance hook step from “Monica”, performed by Pooja Hegde, went viral on social media, boosting anticipation. Read more: Jolly LLB 3 Teaser: Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi in Hilarious Jolly vs Jolly Early Reviews and Reactions of Fans The advance booking number of the Coolie (2025) ticket broke records worldwide. The fans are excited to watch Rajinikanth’s comeback on the silver screen. The ensemble cast, including Aamir Khan's cameo, also earned attention. Rajinikanth’s dazzling smile, charismatic acting and vintage swag are being praised on social media once again. However, there are mixed reactions. While many celebrated the action and energy, others criticised the second half of the film for its uneven pacing and lack of originality. Some viewers labelled certain scenes clichéd or derivative, going as far as tagging the film with #CoolieDisaster on X. Read more: Coolie vs War 2 vs Dhumketu: Which Movie Tops Advance Booking Charts? Kannada-language reactions highlighted Rajinikanth's powerful performance but noted that Lokesh’s direction and story structure didn't meet expectations. Selective Critic Reviews Pinkvilla summarised the film as a “stylish action entertainer” that unfortunately “fails to live up to the hype.” India.com celebrated Rajinikanth’s “power-packed” performance, calling it a triumphant return. The Indian Express spotlighted Shruti Haasan’s role, with impressions that her performance, portraying Preethi, might be among the “finest of her career,” and highlighted a strong “feminine quotient”. Read more: Amazon Prime Originals Lineup for September 2025: Top 10 New and Returning Shows

Box office currents are already surging, with ‘Coolie’, ‘War 2’, and ‘Dhumketu’ drawing fierce attention ahead of their clash. All three storm theatres on August 14, 2025, carrying the same action thriller essence, yet each fused with its own distinct flavour. Early buzz hints at a seismic showdown in presales. Let’s see how the numbers shape this cinematic battlefield. Rajinikanth-Aamir Khan’s Coolie A Tamil action spectacle, ‘Coolie’ comes under the vision of director Lokesh Kanagaraj and the banner of Sun Pictures, led by producer Kalanithi Maran. The cast is a powerhouse, uniting Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, and Upendra in commanding roles. The story steps into a coastal port town ruled by a corrupt syndicate, where coolies endure relentless patterns of mistreatment and hardship. A mysterious man rises against their oppressors, challenging the system’s grip with unyielding resolve. Read more: Amazon Prime Originals Lineup for September 2025: Top 10 New and Returning Shows Hrithik Roshan-NTR Jr.’s War 2 Directed by Ayan Mukerji and backed by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films, War 2 continues the adrenaline-fueled legacy of the YRF Spy franchise. It follows directly from the events of War (2019), raising the stakes for the franchise. Hrithik Roshan, N. T. Rama Rao Jr., and Kiara Advani headline the film, joined by Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor. The plot thrusts rogue agent Kabir into a dark new place, making him India’s most dangerous adversary. To stop him, the nation unleashes its deadliest weapon – Agent Vikram. Read more: Will Zee TV’s long-running daily soap Kumkum Bhagya end soon? Dev-Subhashree’s Dhumketu Blending intense action with romance, Dhumketu is crafted by Kaushik Ganguly, who serves as both writer and director. The production is led by Rana Sarkar and Dev under Dag Creative Media and Dev Entertainment Ventures. Dev stars alongside Subhashree Ganguly, reuniting with her after their memorable pairing in Khoka 420 (2013). The narrative follows a tea estate manager in the hills who faces unemployment amid a crisis, struggling with limited means to sustain himself. Determined, he fights through financial hardship to rebuild his life. The journey of the film itself has been turbulent, as filming began in October 2015 and wrapped in January 2017. Production then stalled for years due to unforeseen hurdles. After nearly nine years, the project has been revived and completed, sparking fresh anticipation among audiences. Read more: New Korean Drama Lineup for August 2025 : 10 Binge-worthy Releases Coolie, War 2, and Dhumketu Face Off in Advance Booking Race Advance ticket sales for ‘Coolie’ ignited global momentum the moment they opened on 22 July. In the United States, Rs. 15 lakh (USD 18,000) worth of tickets disappeared within minutes. Dallas alone saw 600 seats snapped up instantly. The North American market responded with remarkable speed—over 10,000 tickets sold in just a few days, covering 438 shows. By 25 July, international pre-sales had already crossed Rs. 2.5 crore amounting to USD 300,000. The figure climbed to Rs. 4.2 crore (USD 500,000) within three days. As of 31 July, earnings touched Rs. 5.9 crore, equivalent to USD 700,000. Trade analysts confidently predicted the Rs. 8.5 crore (USD 1 million) mark would fall, and it did – boosted by the trailer release on 2 August. With these numbers, ‘Coolie’ cemented its position among the highest-grossing Indian films in North American advance sales history. Three days before release, ‘Coolie’ maintained a clear lead over ‘War 2’ in North America. The Tamil and Telugu versions together accounted for 73,228 tickets (USD 1.86 million), from 500 locations and 1,565 shows. In comparison, ‘War 2’ had moved 16,226 tickets, earning USD 435,000 from 763 locations and 1,977 shows. In India, the contrast remained striking. ‘War 2’ recorded Rs. 4.71 crore in advance bookings (Rs. 9.1 crore including block seats), covering 1,44,081 tickets across 8,716 shows. Meanwhile, ‘Coolie’ had already crossed Rs. 20 crore in pre-sales. Read more: South Indian Movies Launching in August 2025: 12 Must-watch Films Hitting Screens Yet, an unexpected twist came from West Bengal. Here, the Bengali movie ‘Dhumketu’ disrupted the pattern, delivering a spirited challenge to both big-budget rivals. As of Monday, 11 August, 11:00 am, it had sold nearly 21,000 tickets, and demand kept climbing by the hour. ‘War 2’, by contrast, had sold around 5,500 tickets in the state. The response to ‘Dhumketu’ left its makers astonished. Several shows across West Bengal, especially in Kolkata, were either filling fast or nearly sold out. This surge was extraordinary for a film that completed production 9-10 years ago. Delays often dull a movie’s appeal, yet here, anticipation has only intensified. Audiences know the film’s long journey, but that hasn’t dimmed their enthusiasm. In fact, it has made this moment feel historic. Verdict ‘Coolie (2025)’, ‘War 2 (2025)’, and ‘Dhumketu (2025)’ are steering toward a box office clash with distinct momentum in their favour. While ‘Coolie’ dominates globally and in most Indian territories, ‘War 2’ maintains steady traction in its key markets. In West Bengal, ‘Dhumketu’ has defied expectations, capturing audience excitement despite its decade-old production. Each film carries its own pull, shaping a dynamic and unpredictable race. However, the post-release showdown will decide who truly owns the stage. Read more: Amazon Prime Originals Streaming Slate For August 2025: Exclusive Films and Series

Veteran actor Mohanlal has revealed that Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and South Indian superstar Rajinikanth were highly impressed by the trailer of his upcoming film, L2: Empuraan. In an interview with News18, he spoke about their reactions and how they genuinely appreciated the film’s scale and production value.  Speaking about their feedback, Mohanlal emphasised that their praise was heartfelt and not driven by competition. “I shared the trailer with Amitabh Bachchan saab, and Rajini sir personally called me. He was astonished and said, ‘What have you done? Oh my god!’ It was genuine appreciation, not a reaction stemming from a need to create something better,” he said.  The ‘Drishyam’ actor further explained that Rajinikanth, who is also a producer, understood the level of effort put into the film. “He could see the investment made in the movie and acknowledged it. His compliment was sincere, coming straight from his heart after watching the trailer. It wasn’t just a casual social media post praising the film,” Mohanlal added.  Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, L2: Empuraan is one of the most anticipated films of 2025. Serving as a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer, the film sees Mohanlal reprising his role as Khureshi-Ab'raam. The trailer hints at an intense socio-political drama with high-stakes action and gripping storytelling.  BJP highlights real story behind John Abraham’s 'The Diplomat' The film also stars Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor and Gokulam Gopalan under Aashirvad Cinemas and Sree Gokulam Movies, the film will release in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.  Set to hit cinemas on March 27, L2: Empuraan marks Mohanlal and Prithviraj’s third collaboration after Lucifer and Bro Daddy. With inputs from Indian media

Dadasaheb Phalke and Padma Bhushan-awarded South Indian Star Rajinikanth is the most successful actor in the Indian film industry. The original name of this man from Karnataka was Shivaji Rao Gaekwad who got his acting chops through Kannada mythological plays. And it was the time when he caught the attention of Tamil film director K Balachander.  Then with the 1975 Tamil film Apoorva Ragangal directed by Balachander, Rajinikanth's film career began. And it was this Balachander who gave Rajinikanth his stage name ‘Rajinikanth’. Almost all of Rajinikanth's films have an impeccable style of punchlines.  Let's check out the most popular movies of this veteran actor on his 72nd birthday. Top 5 Most Memorable Films of South Indian Star Rajinikanth Billa (1980) This R Krishnamurthy-directed action-thriller is a remake of the 1978 Hindi film Don starring Amitabh Bachchan. After this movie, Rajinikanth became the Tamil version of Bachchan in the Kollywood industry. He manages to master Bachchan's angry young man style quite well. However, Rajinikanth himself took Bachchan as his inspiration. Rajinikanth started acting in dual roles for the first time through this cinema. Read More: 10 Best South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2022 This blockbuster movie was a major turning point in his acting career. Since the release of the film, a new Rajinikanth has emerged in the eyes of critics. Billa’s highest-grossing figure in 1980 established Rajinikanth as the top star of southern cinema. This movie started the gangster hero trend in Tamil cinema. In old movies, the audience was usually shown the hero's backstory where the hero was a victim of social problems and committed crimes. Billa, on the contrary, is a complete exception to that, where the hero enjoys committing crimes. And Rajinikanth played the character flawlessly. Chandramukhi (2005) This commercially successful horror comedy film was written and directed by P Vasu. The 1993 Malayalam movie Manchitrathajhu was remade by Vasu himself in Kannada in 2004 as Aptamitra. And this Chandramukhi is the Tamil version of that Aptamitra. Rajinikanth's co-artists here were Jyothika and Nayanthara. Read More: Jaya Ahsan’s Bollywood debut confirmed as photos emerge with Pankaj Tripathi, other co-actors Over 25 Toyota Qualis and 30 stunt artists were used in Rajinikanth's fight sequences in the film. It ran in theaters for 890 consecutive days, making the movie the longest-running South Indian film. The film was released in several languages, including German and Turkish. However, the entire credit behind this was due to Rajinikanth's stardom. Rajinikanth won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for his portrayal of Vettaiyan Raja. The film won four more awards at the Tamil Nadu State Film Festival. The movie also showcased two Filmfare Awards and four Film Fans Association Awards. The film is one of the limited numbers of South Indian films to have grossed over Rs 100 crore at the worldwide box office.

Versatile thespian Rajinikanth will be conferred this year's prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. This was announced by the Indian government on Thursday. “Happy to announce Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2020 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji. His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar tweeted. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema. The recipient is honoured for their "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema" and is selected by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry. Soon after the announcement by the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Twitter to congratulate the 70-year-old southern Indian superstar. Also read: Indian superstar Rajinikanth abandons political ambitions "Hearty congratulations to Shri @rajinikanth on being conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Over the past many years, the versatile actor has been enthralling people by portraying a vast array of roles depicting myriad hues of human experience and emotions," the Vice President wrote. Modi also lauded the veteran actor's contributions to Indian cinema. "Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality...that’s Shri @rajinikanth Ji for you. It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him." On his part, the Indian Home Minister tweeted: "Rajnikanth ji is a true legend, a versatile actor, whose acting and cinematic talent has millions of fans across the world. I join our countrymen in congratulating Shri @rajinikanth  Ji for being conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award." Later in the day, Rajinikanth himself took to Twitter to share a long note in his mother tongue, Tamil. “I wholeheartedly thank the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conferring me Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in the Indian Film Industry," he wrote. Also read: Indian film superstar Rajinikanth turns 70 "I thank my bus driver and friend Raj Bahadur who discovered my acting talent and encouraged me, my brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad who sacrificed a lot while we were struggling in poverty to make me an actor, my guru K Balachander for creating ‘the Rajinikanth," the actor added. Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth made his debut in 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal. Subsequently, he made his Bollywood debut. He achieved stardom in the 1990s. The regional film Baashha, released in 1995, in which Rajinikanth played a crime boss, earned him a 'god-like' status in Tamil Nadu. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema, whose popularity has been attributed to his uniquely styled dialogues in films. He has won many awards, including four Tamil Nadu State Film Best Actor Awards. He is the only actor to be featured in a school board syllabus, in a lesson' From Bus Conductor to Superstar. The Indian government earlier honored the philanthropist with two civilian awards -- the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. Read Indian film superstar Rajinikanth to float political party

In a dramatic U-turn that has shocked millions of his fans, south Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday decided not to join active politics.

South Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Saturday celebrated his 70th birthday in style in the city of Chennai, barely three weeks ahead of the mega launch of his political party to contest in the upcoming elections in his home state of Tamil Nadu.

Putting years of speculation to rest, south Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday announced that he will launch a political party in January next year to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in his home state of Tamil Nadu.