45 actor Upendra on doing a small role in Coolie: It was only a fight at first which was developed later
Upendra addressed criticism over his brief role in Rajinikanth’s Coolie, saying he agreed to the cameo purely out of devotion to Rajini, adding that even a single shot would have been enough for him
Last Updated: 05.38 PM, Dec 22, 2025
Kannada director and actor Upendra was recently seen in Tamil film Coolie starring Rajinikanth. The UI actor played a small role, making him appear only in a couple of scenes, which did not sit well with the audience. One of the criticisms kept on Coolie, was how some of its starry cameos were underutilised with poorly written roles. However, in a recent interview Upendra spoke about why he chose to do Coolie despite his very short role.
Upendra on why he chose to do a cameo in Coolie:
Coolie, the 2025 Tamil film starring Rajinikanth, was a starry affair. From Aamir Khan to Upendra, the film featured a star-studded ensemble. However, the film did not receive good reception critically, with one of the major drawbacks being how some of the roles were not utilised properly. Upendra who played Rajinikanth’s close aide in the film, did not appear, until the end and had only a couple of scenes to perform with no major contribution.
While this brought backlash to Coolie and its director Lokesh Kanagaraj, Upendra spoke on why he chose to do it. On the sidelines of promoting his upcoming film 45, which is also a multi-starrer featuring Shiva Rajkumar and Raj B Shetty, Upendra said, “I did it just for Rajini sir. It was not even in my dream. I am not just a fan of Rajini sir, but a big devotee. For his performance, talent, philosophy and way of living. Even if it was one shot, I was ready. Actually, earlier it was only a fight but they had developed a little more.” Upendra further said that he has always been in awe of Rajinikanth for years together and mentioned that he enjoyed the experience.
Upendra’s 45 release date:
Meanwhile, Upendra’s 45, co-stars Raj B Shetty and Shiva Rajkumar in important roles as well. The action comedy marks the directorial debut of composer Arjun Janya. It is set to release for Christmas on December 25 in theatres.
Upendra FAQs
Q. What is Upendra famous for?
A. Upendra is known for his work in Kannada film industry, for his innovative and unconventional storytelling in films like Om, and UI.
Q. How much does Upendra make per movie?
A. Upendra is reportedly said to charge Rs 10-15 crore a movie.
Q. What is Upendra's upcoming film?
A. Upendra's 45 is set to release on December 25.