Lokesh Kanagaraj Reveals Why Rajinikanth Shouldn't Do Vikram
Coolie, starring the iconic Rajinikanth, is among the most eagerly awaited big-budget releases of Indian cinema. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this film marks one of his boldest and most ambitious projects yet. In a recent interview, the filmmaker addressed whether Coolie is part of his cinematic universe and shared insights on whether Kamal Haasan could have taken on this role.
Clarifying the status of his upcoming film Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj recently spoke with Baradwaj Rangan, putting to rest speculation about its connection to the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). In a clear and concise statement, the director reportedly said, 'This is another standalone film which has nothing to do with my universe." This confirms that, unlike Kamal Haasan's Vikram, Coolie will be a self-contained story with no ties to Lokesh's larger cinematic universe.
Did He Want to Cast Kamal Haasan?
In a candid conversation, Lokesh Kanagaraj revealed that Kamal Haasan was never in the picture for his film Coolie. However, the director confessed that if it meant bringing together Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for a project, he'd be willing to go the extra mile. Nevertheless, Lokesh emphasised that Coolie is tailor-made for Rajinikanth's unique style, and similarly, Vikram is perfectly suited for Kamal Haasan's persona.
In his opinion, swapping the two actors would not have worked, as each film's essence is deeply tied to its star's presence. He said, 'What's clear to me is why Rajni sir shouldn't do Vikram and Kamal sir shouldn't do Coolie. Because it was written for both of them. It wasn't like they were the only ones who didn't want anyone else doing anything apart from these two. So that wouldn't be fair."
In a previous conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Lokesh Kanagaraj shared a fascinating anecdote about Rajinikanth's enthusiasm for Coolie. The director recounted, 'I didn't expect him to say yes. I narrated only the first half and paused at the interval block to ask if he'd be interested. He immediately said yes. I hadn't even written the second half yet. When I returned a couple of months later with the complete script, he loved it."
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