Coolie on OTT: Upendra’s cameo is no match for Shivarajkumar in Jailer
Coolie on OTT: Upendra has defended his cameo in the film, saying he did it only to be able to stand next to the Superstar, but netizens reckon director Lokesh Kanagaraj squandered a great opportunity
Last Updated: 10.12 PM, Sep 11, 2025
When it was revealed that Kannada cinema’s Real Star Upendra would be in Superstar Rajinikanth’s Coolie, audiences were thrilled with his inclusion, considering that Century Star Shivarajkumar’s cameo in Jailer had been quite the hit, giving the actor a new legion of fans in other states. This could be Upendra’s chance, it was thought. When the film came out, though, his fans were in for a major disappointment and now that Coolie is on OTT, it’s become a topic of discussion yet again. Upendra as Kaleesha is no match for Shivarajkumar’s Narasimha, they reckon.
“Upendra in Coolie is nothing; they’ve wasted him”, wrote one, while another added that the actor looked fantastic in the film and got a great background score to boot, but still got a raw deal. “This has to be one of the most underutilised cameos in recent times,” added the user. “An important director Actor Upendra was reduced to being a henchman,” wrote another, adding, “Handsdown, Shivanna in Jailer is the better cameo”.
Kannadiga audiences felt that people who don't know Upendra will not care for Kaleesha and that an opportunity for him to shine and attract newer audiences was, sadly, lost. Upendra was made to play second-fiddle to Rajinikanth and was more like a glorified extra, they added. On the contrary, Shivarajkumar’s limited screen space in Jailer still allowed him individual moments to show off his swag and he was presented as a formidable ally.
Coolie, which also stars Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Rachita Ram, among others, features music by Anirudh. The film has made its way to OTT within a month of its theatrical outing, following largely negative reviews. It is said to have grossed around Rs 500 cr world-wide, but failed to recover its investment from the theatrical business.
FAQs
Q. Is Coolie released in OTT?
A. Yes, Coolie is streaming on Prime Video now.
Q. Is Coolie part of LCU?
A. No, Coolie is not connected to LCU.
Q. Is the Coolie movie a hit?
A. Financially, Coolie grossed over Rs 500 crore worldwide, but received negative reviews. Trackers estimate that the film did not recover its investment.