Rajinikanth’s recent speech at the August 2 audio launch of his upcoming film Coolie has sparked backlash online after he made comments that many perceived as body-shaming.
While praising his co-stars, the superstar referred to Aamir Khan as “short” and Soubin Shahir as “bald,” prompting criticism from netizens.
During the event, Rajinikanth admitted he was initially unfamiliar with Soubin Shahir’s work. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj convinced him to cast Soubin, citing his performance in Manjummel Boys.
Rajinikanth said he was “blown away” after watching Soubin’s scenes but reportedly added a comment about his baldness, which many found unnecessary.
Speaking about Aamir Khan’s cameo, Rajinikanth lauded the Bollywood actor as a legend but noted that he “stands tall among others despite being short,” a remark that some viewers considered disrespectful.
Social media reactions were swift. Critics argued that if such comments had come from actors like Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, or Amitabh Bachchan, the backlash would have been far greater, suggesting that Rajinikanth’s stature in the industry shields him from harsher criticism.
Others called his speech “the worst among all” and pointed out the irony of joking about baldness after revealing that Fahadh Faasil - another bald actor - was the original choice for the role.
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie marks Rajinikanth’s 171st film and features Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, and Aamir Khan.
The film is set for an August 14 release, clashing with War 2 starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR.