Tamil cinema is abuzz with the staggering remuneration secured by director Lokesh Kanagaraj for his upcoming action-thriller “Coolie,” starring superstar Rajinikanth. This high-profile collaboration has not only generated tremendous anticipation for its release but also set new benchmarks in director salaries within the Indian film industry.
Multiple reports and Lokesh himself have confirmed that he is receiving a remuneration of ₹50 crore for helming “Coolie,” an all-time record for a South Indian director and placing him just behind industry stalwarts like Shankar, who commanded a similar fee for his work on big-budget projects. The director revealed in a recent interview that his paycheck was doubled after his last film, “Leo,” grossed more than ₹600 crore at the box office, emphasizing that such success naturally led to a significant rise in his fee.
The film is being produced on a mammoth scale, with a reported budget of ₹350 crore, excluding print and publicity costs. Rajinikanth, the film’s leading man, is reportedly being paid an upfront salary of ₹150 crore, one of the highest ever for an actor in Indian cinema. The rest of the budget has gone into mounting the project and paying the remainder of the large ensemble cast, which includes Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Shruti Haasan, among others.
Lokesh Kanagaraj acknowledged the immense expectations around “Coolie,” noting that with record remuneration comes increased accountability to deliver a film that justifies both its ambition and its investment. With its grand scale, star-studded cast, and massive financial stakes, “Coolie” is poised to be a defining release for Kollywood in 2025.
“Coolie” is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 14, 2025, and is expected to set new standards both in terms of box office performance and industry compensation norms.
