Coolie Advance Booking & Budget: Rajinikanth’s Gangster Drama Smashes Records Before Release

Coolie, the upcoming Tamil-language action thriller starring Superstar Rajinikanth, is already rewriting box office history – and it hasn’t even released yet! Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, the film is getting an unbelievable response in advance bookings across India and the world.

With a budget in the range of ₹350–400 crore, Coolie is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Judging by the early numbers, it looks set to deliver one of the biggest worldwide openings in Indian cinema history.

About the Film – Story and Cast

Coolie is set in a coastal port town and follows the story of a mysterious man who takes a stand against a corrupt syndicate exploiting and abusing coolies (port workers).

The film boasts a star-studded cast:

• Rajinikanth – The superstar himself in a powerful gangster-style role
• Aamir Khan – Adding Bollywood star power
• Nagarjuna – Telugu superstar joining the lineup
• Shruti Haasan – Playing the female lead
• Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Sathyaraj – Strong supporting roles
• Plus Rachita Ram, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, Kanna Ravi, Monisha Blessy, Kaali Venkat, Charle, and more.

With such a mix of talent from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi cinema, Coolie is truly a pan-India film.

Advance Booking – Setting Records Worldwide

International Market Performance

Coolie’s advance booking started in international markets before India, and the results were jaw-dropping:

• Pre-sales collections for opening day (including premieres) have already crossed ₹37 crore internationally.
• The film is on track to reach ₹50 crore in pre-sales overseas before release.
• This would make it the biggest opening day for any Tamil film in history in the overseas market.

Domestic Advance Booking in India

In India, tickets went live on August 8, 2025, and the response was immediate:

• Over 1 lakh tickets sold within hours of bookings opening.
• Current day-one domestic gross from advance booking is around ₹14 crore, with the biggest contributions from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Multiplex chains and more single-screen theatres are yet to open all their shows for booking, meaning the numbers will grow rapidly.

Worldwide Opening Day Pre-Sales So Far

Adding up domestic and international numbers:

• Worldwide opening day pre-sales: ₹51+ crore gross (as of now).
• If the momentum continues, trade experts believe Coolie could cross ₹100 crore in advance bookings for day one alone.

Why Coolie’s Advance Booking is So Strong

Several factors are driving these historic numbers:

1. Rajinikanth Factor – Even at 74, Rajinikanth’s popularity is unmatched. Every release of his becomes a festival in South India.
2. Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Direction – Known for action-packed blockbusters like Kaithi, Master, and Vikram, Lokesh has a strong fan base of his own.
3. Pan-India Appeal – With stars from multiple industries, Coolie is attracting audiences beyond Tamil cinema.
4. Independence Day Weekend Release – Releasing on 15 August 2025, a national holiday, gives the film a huge boost.
5. Mass Action & Gangster Theme – The trailer promises intense action, emotional drama, and stylish performances – exactly what fans love.

Budget – One of the Biggest in Indian Cinema

Coolie is reported to have a production budget of ₹350–400 crore, making it:

• One of the most expensive Tamil films ever made
• On par with the budgets of RRR, Baahubali 2, and Adipurush

Where the money went:

• Massive star cast fees – Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, and Nagarjuna command huge salaries.
• High-end action sequences – Large-scale fights, explosions, and chase scenes shot across multiple countries.
• Top-class technical crew – Big names in cinematography, music, and editing.
• Extensive set design – The port town backdrop has been built on a massive scale.

Given its budget, Coolie will need very strong box office collections to be profitable – but current trends suggest it’s heading in the right direction.

Expected Box Office Records

If Coolie crosses ₹100 crore in pre-sales for day one, it could:

• Break the all-time day-one record for a Tamil film worldwide
• Challenge all-India opening day records set by films like KGF: Chapter 2 and RRR
• Set a new benchmark for advance bookings in Indian cinema

Trade experts believe the film could gross ₹250–300 crore worldwide in its first three days, thanks to the long holiday weekend.

Competition – Coolie vs War 2

Coolie is releasing just one day after War 2, the Hrithik Roshan–Junior NTR spy action film. This has set up a South vs North box office battle:

• Coolie is dominating in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and most of South India.
• War 2 has stronger pre-sales in North India and overseas Hindi-speaking markets.

Despite the clash, both films are expected to do huge business because of the extended holiday period.

Audience Reactions to Advance Booking

Fans are going all out to secure their tickets:

• In Chennai, first-day-first-show tickets were sold out within minutes.
• Some theatres are planning midnight and early morning shows to meet demand.
• Social media is flooded with videos of fans celebrating, dancing, and bursting crackers outside theatres as bookings opened.

One fan tweeted:
"Coolie tickets booked! Can’t wait to see Thalaivar and Aamir Khan together on the big screen!"

Coolie’s Chances for a Record-Breaking Opening

Given the combination of:

• Rajinikanth’s star power
• Lokesh Kanagaraj’s direction
• Aamir Khan’s pan-India presence
• Massive pre-release hype
• Holiday weekend advantage

Coolie has everything it needs to deliver one of the biggest openings ever in Indian cinema.

If the film receives positive word of mouth after release, it could easily cross ₹800–900 crore worldwide gross in its lifetime run – and maybe even aim for the ₹1000 crore club.

Set New Box Office Records for Tamil Cinema.

Coolie isn’t just another Rajinikanth film – it’s a mega-event for Indian cinema. The combination of a powerful story, a massive budget, an all-star cast, and historic advance bookings makes it one of the most anticipated releases of 2025.

With ₹51+ crore already locked in for day one pre-sales and the potential to hit ₹100 crore before release, the film is already a blockbuster in the making.

Now, all eyes are on 15 August 2025, when fans will finally see whether Coolie lives up to the hype – and whether it can set new box office records for Tamil cinema.