Rajinikanth has once again proven why he remains the undisputed superstar of Indian cinema. The legendary actor’s latest outing, 'Coolie', directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has stormed the global box office, registering historic numbers on its opening day.

Powered by massive advance bookings overseas and overwhelming spot bookings in India, 'Coolie' has achieved one of the biggest openings ever for an Indian film. According to early trade estimates, the film collected Rs 65 crore net in India on its debut day. This makes it the second-highest opening for a Tamil film, just behind Vijay’s Leo (Rs 66 crore), and ahead of Rajinikanth’s own 2.0 (Rs 60 crore). The gross India total is estimated to be around Rs 80 crore.

The film’s reach extends far beyond its home turf. Dubbed versions in Telugu and Hindi have performed exceptionally well, aided by a star-studded cast featuring Nagarjuna, Upendra, and Shruti Haasan, along with a special cameo by Aamir Khan.

Where Coolie truly made history, however, is in the overseas market. Production house Sun Pictures confirmed that the film amassed Rs 151 crore worldwide on its first day — a record-breaking achievement for Tamil cinema. This includes $3.04 million from North America, £124,000 from the UK, and AU$535,000 from Australia — all setting new benchmarks for Tamil films in those regions.

With this figure, 'Coolie' surpasses the previous Tamil record held by Leo (Rs 142.5 crore) and even overtakes opening day numbers of blockbuster hits such as Jawan (Rs 126 crore), Animal (Rs 116 crore), Pathaan (Rs 104 crore), and 2.0
(Rs 94 crore). It has also outperformed 'War 2', starring Hrithik Roshan and 'Jr NTR', which opened in the Rs 90-95 crore range.

Coolie is an action-packed thriller with Rajinikanth in the lead, supported by a powerhouse ensemble cast, including Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Sathyaraj. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the superstar’s charisma and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s mass appeal have ensured that 'Coolie' remains the hottest ticket at the box office.