Coolie trailer: Deva’s revenge fest for Kaleesha; speculation galore about Upendra’s role

Coolie trailer: With director Lokesh Kanagaraj not revealing details about the plot of Coolie, netizens are busy trying to decode it with what he’s slipped into the trailer

Kannada star Upendra in Coolie

Kannada star Upendra returns to Tamil cinema after more than a decade and a half with Superstar Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which releases in theatres on August 14, 2025. Upendra plays Kaleesha in the film, with details of his role tightly under wraps even after the trailer dropped earlier today. The Real Star is seen sporting a blue uniform, which has led to speculation that his portions comprise the flashback portions of the film, in which Upendra and Rajinikanth are buddies and ‘coolies’ at a port.

Does Upendra's Kaleesha die in the past? What's his connect with Deva?

The buzz is that Kaleesha death, among other events, leads Rajinikanth’s Deva on a highly violent path of revenge. Even though it has been reported that Shruthi Haasan plays Sathyaraj’s daughter, some netizens believe that she is Kaleesha’s daughter. Besides Deva, Kaleesha is the most important character in the Coolie universe, they reckon.

There are theories galore that Kaleesha dies in the flashback portion, or ‘disappeared without a trace’ (fuelling the time travel theory), only to return in the present-day bits again with Deva, as seen towards the end of the trailer. Kannada fans, of course, cannot get enough of the signature shot of Upendra’s eyes darting around.

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Coolie trailer reactions: Crow cawing, de-aged Rajinikanth, gold smuggling, Kamal Haasan reference; Netizens begin decoding

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that the plot synopsis of Coolie had been leaked, which hinted at Rajinikanth’s Deva being a former gold smuggler, who uses technology to revive and reunite his old gang. Sathyaraj, accordingly, plays the scientist who develops this technology. The film, which has music by Aniruddh, also marks the Tamil debut of Dimple Queen Rachita Ram. It had been speculated that she plays a negative lead in Coolie, but the trailer shows her as a damsel in distress.

The film’s massive ensemble cast also includes Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir and Aamir Khan, with Pooja Hegde filling in for the special number, Monica. Reba Monica John is also reportedly in the film, but her character did not make it to the trailer.

FAQs

Q. What censor certification has Coolie got?

A. Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie has been certified A for its violent content, a first in Superstar Rajinikanth's career.

Q. What's the budget of Coolie?

A. Coolie is rumoured to have been made at a budget of Rs 350 cr to Rs 400 cr

Q. How much did Lokesh charge to make Coolie?

A. Lokesh is said to have taken home a remuneration of Rs 50 cr for Coolie

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