With the upcoming release of Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ and the anticipation of it breaking box office records, it’s worth examining the success of the original ‘Coolie’ starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, which was released 42 years ago.
In 1983, Manmohan Desai directed ‘Coolie’, which featured Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role as a porter. The film was notable for its soundtrack, with the song ‘Sari Duniya Ka Bojh Hum Uthate Hain’ becoming a popular hit.
The original ‘Coolie’ had a budget of 3.5 crore rupees and generated a total collection of 21 crore rupees, representing a significant profit. The film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1983. Alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, the film also featured Rati Agnihotri and Waheeda Rehman in prominent roles. Supporting roles were played by Shoma Anand, Amrish Puri, and Kader Khan.
The new ‘Coolie’ film, starring Rajinikanth, will feature Nagarjuna in a negative role. Aamir Khan will also have a cameo appearance in the film. It has been reported that Aamir Khan did not charge a fee for his role. The film is scheduled to release in theaters on August 14, 2025.