War 2 Vs Coolie: Why New Stars Lack Mass Appeal

Two big films, War 2 and Coolie, hit theatres this weekend. Both had huge hype, but only one came out on top.

👉 War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, released on over 4500 screens (one of the widest ever in India). It earned ₹173 crore in its opening weekend. Sounds big, but the collections started dropping fast. With a budget of ₹400 crore, the film is struggling to even reach break-even.

👉 Coolie, starring superstar Rajinikanth and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, released on fewer than 3000 screens. Reviews were average, yet it collected ₹194 crore in India and broke multiple records. Overseas, Rajni’s film earned a massive $16 million, compared to War 2’s $5.2 million.

Why Rajinikanth Succeeded

Both films got mixed reviews, so why did Coolie work while War 2 fell flat? The answer is simple: Rajinikanth’s stardom.
At 74, Rajni’s fanbase is unmatched. His loyal fans made the film a success, ignoring critics. From Kerala to Lucknow, shows went housefull. This kind of mass power is something younger stars don’t have yet.

The Problem With Younger Stars

Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, Ranbir Kapoor, Prabhas, and Ram Charan can bring big openings, but they can’t sustain without strong content. Unlike Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, or Mohanlal, the new-gen hasn’t built that deep fan loyalty.

The older stars earned it over decades of work, which now lets them turn even average films into blockbusters. The younger stars, most now in their 40s, are still struggling to reach that level of mass connect.

Only time will tell if they ever can.

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