Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which opened to record-breaking numbers on August 14, has now entered its thirteenth day in theatres. After riding high on a massive opening weekend and a strong second weekend, the film finally saw a steep dip on Monday.
For the first time since release, its daily earnings have slipped below the ₹5 crore mark, indicating that the film’s theatrical run has started slowing down.
On Monday, August 25, Coolie earned ₹2.52 crore net at the India box office. The bulk of the business came from the Tamil version (₹1.27 crore), while the Hindi version contributed ₹75 lakh and the Telugu version added ₹50 lakh. The overall Tamil occupancy stood at 13.67%, showing a clear drop compared to the weekend levels.
A closer look at the occupancy patterns reveals the film’s current standing in different regions. In Tamil Nadu, Chennai managed 19.25% occupancy from over 500 shows, a steady performance for a weekday. Smaller centres such as Pondicherry (26.25%), Vellore (22.75%), and Trichy (20.25%) displayed strong audience turnout, suggesting that the film still has pull in Tier-2 markets. However, in bigger cities outside Tamil Nadu, the reception was muted. Mumbai saw just 5.5% occupancy, while the Delhi-NCR region was at a mere 3.33%, highlighting the film’s struggle to connect with the wider pan-India crowd. Kerala too showed mixed results, with Kochi at 6.75% and Trivandrum dipping to just 4.25%.
Coolie’s box office journey so far has been eventful. The film began on an extraordinary note with a ₹65 crore opening day, followed by a four-day extended weekend of nearly ₹195 crore. By the end of its first week, the film had collected ₹229.65 crore net in India, establishing itself as one of the biggest openers of the year. The second weekend gave it a much-needed boost, with ₹5.85 crore on Friday, ₹10.5 crore on Saturday, and ₹11.35 crore on Sunday, reflecting strong family audience turnout. However, the second Monday correction brought the collections down drastically, with ₹2.52 crore, signaling the start of its post-peak phase.
As of day 13, Coolie’s total domestic collection stands at ₹260.35 crore net. Of this, the Tamil version dominates with nearly ₹150 crore, while the Telugu version has contributed over ₹51 crore. The Hindi belt, despite the film’s wide release, has managed only around ₹26 crore, and the Kannada version added a modest ₹2 crore.
The trend now suggests that Coolie will continue its run steadily in Tamil Nadu, where Rajinikanth’s strong fan base ensures consistent footfall even on weekdays. However, the slowdown in the Hindi and Telugu markets will likely cap its lifetime total. Trade estimates suggest that the film could wrap up its India run in the ₹275-280 crore range, depending on its third weekend performance. Crossing the ₹300 crore net mark appears challenging unless there is an unexpected revival.
In summary, Coolie has already secured its place as a box office success and one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2025. Its opening wave reaffirmed Rajinikanth’s unmatched star power, while its steady hold in core Tamil regions has cushioned the fall. Yet, the sharp weekday decline and limited performance outside the South indicate that the film may fall short of breaking all-time records.