The film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring superstar Rajinikanth, is set to hit cinemas next month. Fans and film enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting its release. One of the film’s standout moments so far has been the song Monica, which has received widespread praise--particularly for actor Soubin Shahir’s performance.

Soubin plays the character Dayal in Coolie, a role that director Lokesh Kanagaraj has now revealed was initially intended for Fahadh Faasil. According to the director, the role was conceptualised with Fahadh in mind and was developed over six months. However, due to prior commitments, Fahadh was unable to take on the project.

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“Fahadh Faasil was originally considered for a key role in Coolie. But due to scheduling conflicts, it didn’t work out. It was the character now played by Soubin Shahir—Dayal. Fahadh was our first choice, but he had to turn it down as he was already committed to other projects,” Lokesh said.

Despite the casting change, Soubin’s performance, especially in the Monica song sequence has drawn considerable attention. Many fans have said that his screen presence outshines even Pooja Hegde, and that he has “stolen the show”.

The song Monica features lyrics by Vishnu Edavan, vocals by Subhalakshmi and Anirudh, and includes a rap performance by Asal Kolaar.

Coolie is produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner. The film boasts an ensemble cast including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, and Shruti Haasan. It is slated for release on 14 August.