‘Rajinikanth made me cry…': Lokesh Kanagraj on his Coolie star, says he's the only actor ‘who lives as a hero'
As Lokesh Kanagaraj gears up for the release of Coolie, starring the legendary Rajinikanth, the filmmaker opened up in a recent interview with Sudhir Srinivasan about the profound personal and creative impact of collaborating with the superstar.
Reflecting on his experience of working with Rajinikanth, Lokesh recalled how the actor's stories and life lessons left him deeply moved. 'I can't even begin to explain what that man made me feel like. He made me realise (things), he made me think about life, made me cry (in a good sense), made me laugh… every day was a learning for me. He is such a great person, hearing about everything that's happened to him in life, hearing his experiences, it felt like we all are nothing.' Lokesh shared.
Lokesh Kanagaraj also recounted a particularly memorable moment with veteran actor Sathyaraj, who has worked alongside Rajinikanth for nearly four decades. While showing him a footage of Rajinikanth's performance to explain a scene, Sathyaraj offered a line that stayed with Lokesh: 'Some act as heroes, but if there's someone who can live as a hero, it's Rajini.'
Look test for #Coolie 🔥
On floors from July pic.twitter.com/ENcvEx2BDj
— Lokesh Kanagaraj (@Dir_Lokesh) June 26, 2024
Also Read | Coolie director Lokesh Kanagaraj reveals why his Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan film was shelved; comments on chances of revival: 'It's about two ageing gangsters'
The admiration didn't end there. Just before filming commenced for Coolie, Lokesh was taken aback when Rajinikanth made a candid confession. 'He said, 'Lokesh, I don't think I'm a great artist,'' the director recalled. He added, 'But see, he is a phenomenal actor. No words needed. Legends aren't made without great accomplishments. Unbelievable, that man is. His memory power at this age is remarkable. Something we said a year before, he reminds us exactly what we said. Everything is stored in his mind without any notes or reminders. His activities leave me stunned. Some qualities in him are unbelievable, truly a miracle.'
As anticipation builds for Coolie, Rajinikanth also has Jailer 2 in the pipeline, with its promo recently launched. Meanwhile, Lokesh Kanagaraj is simultaneously working on expanding his cinematic universe with Kaithi 2 and Vikram 2.
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