Renowned actor Nagarjuna discusses his venture into new territory with Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie, where he takes on the role of a villain for the first time in his illustrious career. He describes this shift as a refreshing change, sharing insights on how playing a negative character became a surprisingly positive experience.

So, Nagarjuna, you're portraying the antagonist in Coolie?

Yes, indeed! Surprised to hear that?

Is this your first time as a villain?

It is! That’s what made it exciting. The character I portray is quite sinister. When Lokesh approached me, I questioned whether anyone could truly be that evil. He reassured me that there are individuals even more malevolent than this character.

Was it challenging for the director to persuade you?

Absolutely. I was quite reluctant when Lokesh first pitched the idea. I was uncertain about whether my fans would accept me in a negative role. It took several narrations for him to convince me. Now, I’m grateful I took on this challenge. It’s a departure from my usual roles. The character in Coolie operates outside the law, believing he can do whatever he pleases without consequences. Portraying a villain has been a positive experience, allowing me to explore actions I would never consider in real life. Additionally, there’s something else I accomplished that I hadn’t done before.

What’s that?

I provided my voice for dubbing in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi for Coolie. I’m not sure how many actors have done this, but it was a first for me to speak in three languages for a single film. I believe Kamal Haasan might have done something similar.

And working alongside Rajinikanth was another milestone?

Yes! I’ve known Rajini Sir for many years, but we had never collaborated until now. Everything you hear about him is true—he is kind, humble, supportive, and incredibly down-to-earth. It was a joy to work with him, especially as this marks his fiftieth year in the film industry.

And this year also marks your 39th year in cinema?

Actually, it’s been longer than that! My first leading role was in Vikram in 1986, but I started acting as a child much earlier.

Your Hindi debut was in Ram Gopal Varma's Shiva, which is being re-released?

That film remains one of my favorites; it still holds grit and relevance.