Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh has stirred an online debate after extending warm wishes to superstar Rajinikanth for his upcoming film Coolie, while remaining silent on War 2, which stars Jr NTR and is set to release on the same day.
In a social media post, Nara Lokesh shared a special video wishing Coolie team a great success and celebrating Rajinikanth’s 50 years in cinema, calling it a privilege to witness the actor’s era. He also thanked Rajinikanth for once supporting his family’s project Dark Horse.
While the gesture drew admiration from many, a section of Jr NTR’s fans voiced displeasure. They questioned why Lokesh chose to highlight Coolie without mentioning War 2, especially since the latter marks NTR’s Bollywood debut and holds a close family connection.
Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, features an impressive cast including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Aamir Khan, and Sabeen. The film has been creating strong pre-release buzz thanks to its star power and the collaboration between Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj.
Meanwhile, War 2, helmed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, is shaping up to be one of the biggest action spectacles of the year. Starring NTR alongside Hrithik Roshan, the spy thriller pits the two actors against each other in high-intensity action sequences. Promotional material released so far has amplified anticipation among fans across India.
With both Coolie and War 2 releasing on 14 August, the box office is set for a major showdown. Fans are already speculating over which film will dominate opening day collections, with the clash being one of the most closely watched in recent years.
Whether Lokesh will address the criticism from NTR fans is yet to be seen, but his post has already ensured that the release-day rivalry between the two films has gained extra attention.