Coolie Roars in Mass Centres: Independence Day Boost Takes Rajinikanth Starrer Past ₹11 Crore in Hindi, Andhra States Start is 2nd Biggest Ever for Kollywood:-
Rajinikanth Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is turning out to be a true pan-India spectacle. In the Hindi market, the film enjoyed a sharp rise on its second day, thanks to the Independence Day holiday. Early estimates suggest 6.85 crore (Outside chances of touch 7 crore) on Friday, taking the two-day total to 11.35 crore. This nearly 50% growth from Thursday’s 4.50 crore opening highlights strong pull in single screens and smaller towns, despite limited showcasing in North India.
While reviews are mixed, Coolie is exactly the kind of larger-than-life action entertainer that connects with mass audiences. Tier-3 and Tier-4 single screens, in particular, depend on films like this to draw crowds, as urban-centric content rarely performs in these pockets. For many of these cinemas, Coolie is more than just a hit- it’s a lifeline. However, screen allocation has been a major roadblock in the Hindi belt. Several interior theatres, eager to play Coolie, have been locked into pre-existing agreements to continue War 2, even in areas where it’s underperforming. A more flexible approach to showcasing would allow these centres to replace low-performing titles and keep their business afloat.
Historic Andhra States Opening – Just Shy of a Record
Beyond Hindi territories, Coolie has delivered fireworks in the Andhra States. The film grossed an impressive 17.75 crore on its opening day there, securing the second biggest debut ever for a Tamil release in the region. The only film ahead is Rajinikanth’s own 2.0 (18.30 crore). What makes this feat even more remarkable is the fact that Coolie faced a direct clash with War 2, which features Tollywood superstar Jr NTR.
Cineinfinity trade believe that without the clash, Coolie could have easily crossed the 30 crore mark, setting a new Kollywood record by a massive 65–70% margin. That kind of start would have rewritten history books for Tamil cinema in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Rajinikanth now holds five entries in the Top 10 biggest Kollywood openings in Andhra States — more than any other actor. Alongside 2.0 and Coolie, his films Kabali, Jailer, and Darbar also make the list. This enduring box office love proves that audiences in the Telugu states continue to treat Rajinikanth as one of their own.
Top 10 Highest Kollywood Opening Days in Andhra States
- 2.0 – ₹18.30 crore
- Coolie – ₹17.75 crore
- Leo – ₹12.00 crore
- Kabali – ₹11.75 crore
- Jailer – ₹10.50 crore
- Indian 2 – ₹10.25 crore
- I – ₹9.00 crore
- Master – ₹8.90 crore
- Beast – ₹8.20 crore
- Darbar – ₹7.50 crore
Notably, filmmaker S. Shankar remains the most successful Kollywood director in the Andhra States with three films in the list, while Lokesh Kanagaraj is fast catching up. Coolie is his third film to enter the chart after Leo and Master.
South Still Strong, Hindi Needs a Boost
In Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, Coolie continues to command strong numbers, even as some overseas markets see minor drops from day two. In Hindi, the extended weekend looking is 20+ crore, which would cement it as one of the top Tamil-to-Hindi performers in recent years.
With Saturday and Sunday still to come, Coolie has room to grow. The question now is whether it can maintain momentum into the weekdays or not.
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