Lokesh Kanagaraj says he deserves Rs 50 cr salary for Coolie, responds to question about Rajinikanth's pay cheque: ‘It's a Rs 400 crore film'

Indian Express

5 days ago

One of the most anticipated projects of the year, Coolie, is going to be released on August 14. Starring Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Aamir Khan and Upendra Rao, the film has generated immense buzz in the audience, and director Lokesh Kanagaraj is looking forward to the release. Although it seems like Lokesh handles big releases in a rather unique way, as he revealed in a recent interview that numbers don't really interest him and he prefers to distance himself from the outside world once a movie comes out.
While talking to THR India, Lokesh shared how he has never given box office numbers and reviews much importance, and even though he has given his heart and soul to the film, he chooses to detach himself from it and what the rest of the world thinks. 'After the release day, I think I am going to Bali. I am not going to sit here and listen to the numbers. I will watch the three shows of the film on the day of the release; we'll all have a party that night, and the next day I will disappear somewhere with my school friends without telling my team. I will be gone for a minimum of three to four days, and once everything is over and the critics have said their piece, I'll come back then.'
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He revealed how, despite his unique routine after the release of the film, he always feels responsible for how the project does in the market and how certain people can never sleep peacefully until their film is a success. He said, 'Only three people have to be worried about the film. The hero, if it's a market film, the director and the producer. A technician working on the film doesn't care about the number, but those three people are always under the gun. You are only as good as your last film; if someone asks about my salary of Rs 50 crore, it is because of the success of the previous film, Leo.'
Talking more about his fees for the film, Lokesh stated that he feels that the amount is completely justified, and although he didn't reveal how much stars like Rajinikanth or Aamir Khan are charging, he did talk about the total expanse of the budget and how taking that responsibility should come with the proper compensation. 'While I don't want to talk about Rajini sir's salary, I think I deserve the Rs 50 crore; I am going to pay tax on it, and two years of my life have gone to this project alone. It's a Rs 400 crore film, and there is a lot of responsibility riding on my shoulders. I am very excited about it, and if the film does well and we earn a lot, all that money is going to help my family and friends, with whom I lost touch during the time I was working on Coolie.'
Seeing the stellar cast, and Lokesh's previous track record, Coolie seems to be pegged for a massive opening come release day. The makers of the film and all the stars associated with it will hope to create more than just a dent in the box office.