Superstar Rajinikanth recently praised Mollywood actor Soubin Shahir during a promotional event for the upcoming film ‘Coolie,’ set to release in theatres on August 14. In his candid speech, Rajinikanth admitted he was initially unfamiliar with Soubin and had reservations about his casting in the film.

Rajinikanth revealed that director Lokesh Kanagaraj originally intended to cast Fahadh Faasil—who had previously collaborated with them—but had to reconsider due to Fahadh’s unavailability. “I asked Lokesh, ‘Who is Soubin? Which films has he acted in?’ He mentioned Manjummel Boys, where Soubin played a key role. I still had doubts and even questioned whether he would suit the role because he was bald,” Rajinikanth said, adding, “But I stayed quiet because Lokesh had full confidence in him.”

The veteran actor went on to express how impressed he was with Soubin’s performance once filming began. “Lokesh told me I only needed to join the shoot on the third day. He was busy filming Soubin’s portions. When I finally arrived, he showed me Soubin’s scenes, and I was blown away,” Rajinikanth added.

While many applauded Rajinikanth’s honesty and eventual praise, some criticized him for what they perceived as body-shaming Soubin by pointing out his baldness. Others also took issue with his comments referring to Shruti Haasan as a “glamour actress,” calling the remark reductive. 'Coolie' is among the most anticipated Indian releases of 2025, featuring an ensemble cast from Bollywood and South India.

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