Coolie Makers Quote Rs 40 Crore for Telugu Rights, Set to Break Records
Rajinikanth-Nagarjuna starrer sparks bidding war among Telugu producers as pan-India hype builds
If ongoing negotiations are successful, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming action drama Coolie could set a new benchmark in the Telugu market — with dubbing rights alone expected to fetch a staggering Rs 40 crore.
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and backed by Sun Pictures, Coolie is slated for release on August 14 and has already generated massive interest among Telugu producers.
“Over five to six top Telugu producers are in the race to bag the rights and are currently stationed in Chennai,” reveals a leading exhibitor. “Sensing the buzz, the Tamil production house is quoting over Rs 40 crore — the highest for any dubbed Tamil film in recent memory.”
Fueling the frenzy is the film’s stellar ensemble cast that spans multiple film industries. While Rajinikanth leads the project, the film also features Telugu superstar Nagarjuna, Kannada veteran Upendra, Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir, and even a surprise cameo by Bollywood icon Aamir Khan — making Coolie a true pan-India spectacle.
“Nagarjuna commands a huge following in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the makers are aiming to leverage that. Moreover, Rajinikanth’s Jailer was a blockbuster in the Telugu states, and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s previous dubbed films like Khaidi and Vikram also performed exceptionally well here,” the exhibitor adds.
This surging demand isn’t unprecedented but certainly game-changing. Previously, Suriya’s Kanguva fetched Rs 25 crore, Vijay’s Leo went for Rs 20 crore, and Jailer was sold for Rs 17 crore — showing a clear upward trend.
“Telugu audiences have long embraced Tamil stars. With their expanding fan base and the growing success of dubbed releases, producers are now confidently pushing the envelope,” he concludes.