Tamil megastar Rajinikanth, fondly known as the legendary Thalaiva, is making headlines for his upcoming pan-India release, Coolie. At the grand trailer launch on August 2, 2025, the Tamil cinema icon impressed fans with his signature on-screen swag and a rare moment of vulnerability. During the event, he opened up about his early days working as a coolie and recalled being mocked by a former classmate, someone he had once mocked during his college days.
Rajinikanth recalls the time he broke down in tears after a former college mate ‘mocked’ him
On August 2, 2025, Rajinikanth shared a poignant moment from his life at the Coolie Unleashed event. The actor became emotional as he recalled the time he worked on a daily wage as a coolie (porter). He remembered breaking down in tears one day when he carried the luggage of a former college mate, and the latter, recognising Rajinikanth, ‘ridiculed’ him for his arrogance during college days. The superstar shared:
“One day, a man asked me to carry a luggage into his tempo and gave me 2 Rupees for it. His voice sounded familiar to me, and I soon realised he was my college mate whom I used to mock. At that moment, he ridiculed me and said, ‘How arrogant you were in those days,’ mocking my job. That was the first time I broke down crying in my life.”
Rajinikanth’s rise to superstardom
Rajinikanth’s emotional revelation was a memorable moment from last evening’s event, as fans were reminded once again of the humble beginnings of the megastar. For those unaware, Rajinikanth’s journey to becoming the legendary Thalaiva was one of relentless grit and striving to get through the days.
Rajinikanth, born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, came from a humble background and took on various jobs to make ends meet. He worked as a daily wage labourer, a carpenter, a porter, and even a bus conductor in Bengaluru. After years of struggle and minor roles, his big break came in 1975 with his acting debut in the National Film Award-winning film Apoorva Raagangal, where he starred alongside South Indian superstar Kamal Haasan.
Rajinikanth credits Lokesh Kanagaraj as the ‘real hero’ of Coolie
At the trailer launch, Rajinikanth also had high praise for the film’s director, Lokesh Kanagaraj, calling him the true force behind Coolie’s mounting buzz. Praising Lokesh as one of the most successful commercial directors, the megastar remarked:
“The true hero of Coolie is none other than director Lokesh Kanagaraj. He has successfully carried sky-high expectations for the film, which was built purely organically. The most successful commercial director teamed up with me, and with a stellar star cast, he has created a storm.”
More about Rajinikanth’s mass entertainer, Coolie
Rajinikanth’s upcoming film, Coolie, follows the story of ‘Deva’, an ageing daily wage worker with a mysterious past. He is forced to rise again to protect a friend from a dangerous kingpin. The pan-India mass entertainer stars a stellar cast, including Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra Rao, Aamir Khan (cameo), Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and more.
The trailer showcases Rajinikanth in a gritty avatar, punching through gangsters, walking through flames, and captivating fans with his signature style. Coolie is all set to hit theatres on August 14, 2025, coinciding with the Independence Day weekend. It will clash with War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR.
What are your thoughts on Rajinikanth’s emotional revelation from his days working as a coolie in real life?
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