Aamir Khan Unveiled as ‘Dahaa’ in Rajinikanth’s Much-Awaited Film Coolie, Set for August 14 IMAX Release

In a major announcement that set social media buzzing, Sun Pictures on Thursday unveiled the highly anticipated first-look poster of Bollywood icon Aamir Khan from Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Coolie.

The announcement has added to the already soaring excitement surrounding the film, which is scheduled for a grand release on August 14, just ahead of India’s Independence Day.

The poster reveals Aamir Khan in a dramatic, never-seen-before avatar, exuding intensity and rugged charisma.

With a smoking pipe in hand, a weathered look, and a visibly toned physique, the 60-year-old actor portrays a character named Dahaa, who is expected to play a pivotal role in this high-octane action entertainer.

Sharing the first look on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the makers wrote:

“Introducing #AamirKhan as Dahaa, from the world of #Coolie. #Coolie is all set to dominate IMAX screens worldwide from August 14th.”

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, one of Tamil cinema’s most sought-after filmmakers, Coolie features a power-packed ensemble cast from across multiple Indian film industries. Joining Rajinikanth and Aamir Khan are:

• Telugu superstar Nagarjuna,

• Bollywood actress Pooja Hegde,

• Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir,

• Kannada star Upendra,

• Shruti Haasan, who plays the character Preethi, and

• Veteran actor Sathyaraj, taking on the role of Rajasekhar.

The film wrapped up its principal photography earlier this year, with Rajinikanth reportedly completing his portions ahead of schedule. With the teaser and now Aamir Khan’s striking look out in the public domain, anticipation for the theatrical release has reached fever pitch.

The music of Coolie is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, who has become a regular collaborator in Rajinikanth’s recent ventures, having previously composed the soundtrack for the 2023 blockbuster Jailer.

The score for Coolie is expected to be high-energy and cinematic, complementing the film’s grand visual scale.

Coolie is also significant as it marks the seventh directorial project of Lokesh Kanagaraj, who has risen to national fame with films like Kaithi (2019), Vikram (2022), and Leo (2023).

These three films are part of the much-talked-about Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) — a shared narrative universe that has earned a cult following among Indian moviegoers. While speculation is rife about whether Coolie too belongs to the LCU, no official confirmation has been made so far.

The release of Coolie is set to clash at the box office with another big-budget action extravaganza—War 2, which stars Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR.

The face-off between these two cinematic giants is likely to make the Independence Day weekend one of the biggest box office showdowns in recent times.

Meanwhile, Aamir Khan, who has traditionally been selective with his film choices, is enjoying the success of his latest release Sitaare Zameen Par. Directed by R.S. Prasanna, the emotional family drama has been performing steadily at the box office, having earned ₹134.42 crore nett in India since its release on June 20, according to data from the industry tracking platform Sacnilk.

The film also stars Genelia Deshmukh, Dolly Ahluwalia, Gurpal Singh, Brijendra Kala, and Ankita Sehgal in important roles.

With Coolie, Aamir Khan makes a return to Tamil cinema in a special appearance of national interest, bridging the gap between regional and Hindi film industries.

As expectations build, all eyes are now on August 14, when Coolie hits IMAX screens globally, promising a cinematic spectacle with a star-studded ensemble and a compelling storyline.