Lokesh Kanagaraj’s much-awaited Coolie has finally hit the big screens, and apart from the electrifying presence of Superstar Rajinikanth, one aspect that has caught everyone’s eye is Nagarjuna’s striking villainous avatar.

In a candid chat with co-star Shruti Haasan, the veteran Telugu superstar revealed that director Lokesh drew inspiration from Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker in The Dark Knight when conceptualising his costume.

“I think Loki had Heath Ledger’s Joker in his mind, and he wanted that madness,” Nagarjuna shared. “He probably saw that madness in the colours too. Purple and cream were completely new to me, I’ve never worn such shades before. Loki finalised the design after seeing a few options, and I must say, the purple jacket really stood out.”

Shruti Haasan added, “It’s kind of a mix of Heath Ledger and the classic Joker,” while Nagarjuna quipped, “I’m just glad he didn’t give me that smile!”

For an actor long associated with strong, morally upright characters, this marks a bold new shift. Nagarjuna admitted he took multiple narrations before agreeing to play the role. “For the first time, I even recorded the narration and made notes. I had never done that before,” he revealed.

Interestingly, his performance also won appreciation from none other than Rajinikanth himself. “After one particular shot, Rajini sir just nodded and smiled, that was enough validation,” Nagarjuna recalled with pride.

Coolie, which released worldwide on August 14, stars Rajinikanth in the lead, with Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, and a cameo appearance by Aamir Khan.

Packed with high-octane action and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s signature stylish touch, the film is already creating waves, with Nagarjuna’s Joker-inspired antagonist emerging as one of its standout highlights.

Source / Image Credit : News 18