Upendra on his role in Rajinikanth's Coolie: 'I am not the villain...'

Kannada superstar Upendra is thrilled about his maiden onscreen collaboration with Superstar Rajinikanth. At a press conference on Wednesday, he briefly addressed a question about Coolie but kept his response short.

"Yes, I am doing Coolie with director Lokesh Kanagaraj and Superstar Rajinikanth. But, it’s definitely not a villain character," Upendra told the media.

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Returning to Tamil cinema after a long gap, Upendra recently joined the shooting in Hyderabad, where he plays a character named Kaleesha. The producers unveiled his character look, showing him with an intense expression and a golden hook in hand.

Upendra is one of the A-listers in the film’s all-star ensemble cast, which also includes Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, and Shruti Haasan.

The production of Coolie is in full swing in Hyderabad, set against the backdrop of a seaport, suggesting that the film’s plot revolves around smuggling via sea routes. Rajinikanth plays the lead role of Deva.

Upendra’s statement about his character came just as a scene from the shooting spot was leaked. The video shows Nagarjuna’s character, Simon, brutally bludgeoning a man with a hammer in public. This suggests that Simon is likely the cold-blooded antagonist of the film.

Coolie is a standalone movie and it is not part of Lokesh's cinematic universe, which also features blockbusters like Kaithi, Vikram and Leo. Lokesh made this clear with the very first teaser revealing that Coolie doesn't have anything to do with narcotics drugs and Vikram's (Kamal Haasan)ambitious mission of creating a drug-free society. The film is expected in cinemas next year. 

Meanwhile, Upendra is also preparing for the release of his next directorial venture, UI. He has written, directed, and stars in the film, marking his return to direction after an eight-year hiatus, which has created significant anticipation among his fans.

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