Actress Pooja Hegde reveals her high-energy dance for the hit song Monica in Rajinikanth’s film Coolie was one of her most physically demanding performances. Despite fasting for Mahashivratri, she battled extreme heat and injury. The viral track has already garnered 21 million views across languages, elevating excitement for the film.
Actress Pooja Hegde has opened up about the intense physical challenges she endured while filming the now-viral dance number Monica from superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Coolie. The actress, who has been receiving widespread appreciation for her energetic and glamorous performance, called the song “one of the most physically toughest and demanding” of her career.
Taking to Instagram, Pooja shared a few behind-the-scenes (BTS) clips and revealed that she performed the high-octane dance routine under extremely demanding conditions. She wrote:
“Thank you for all the love on Monica. Monica was one of the MOST physically toughest and demanding songs of my career.”
The actress went on to explain how she had to fight through intense heat, humidity, dust, and sunburns that left her with tan lines lasting for months. “I had to keep pushing myself through the blisters and keep the energy up for this high-energy number,” she said. “This was also my first major dance shoot after recovering from a ligament tear.”
What’s more impressive is that Pooja shot the song while fasting for Mahashivratri, a Hindu religious observance that involves abstaining from food and water for long hours. Despite the physical strain and spiritual commitment, the actress delivered a spectacular performance that looked effortless and glamorous on screen.
“I gave my all to Monica, and it’s going to be a blast to watch in theatres. I promise,” she wrote, adding a shoutout to her co-dancers. “Special shout out to the dancers who stood by me in this task and gave me energy through all that—especially on the Mahashivratri day when I was fasting. You all were just amazing.”
The song Monica has already become a massive chartbuster. Since its release, it has been trending across social media platforms. According to Sun Pictures, the production house behind Coolie, the song has already amassed over 21 million views across multiple language versions. The Tamil version has received over 15 million views, while the Telugu version has surpassed five million, and the Hindi version has crossed one million views.
The film Coolie is being directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj and marks his first collaboration with Rajinikanth. It also continues his musical partnership with composer Anirudh Ravichander, marking their fourth project together. Anirudh’s pulsating score and high-tempo beats in Monica have contributed significantly to the song’s viral success.
The movie boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Indian cinema veterans like Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Shruti Haasan. Cinematography is by Girish Gangadharan, and editing is by Philomin Raj.
Adding to the film’s anticipation is the fact that Coolie marks the reunion of Rajinikanth and actor Sathyaraj after nearly four decades. The duo last appeared together in the 1986 blockbuster Mr. Bharath, where Sathyaraj played Rajinikanth’s father. Notably, Sathyaraj had earlier declined roles in other Rajinikanth films such as Sivaji and Enthiran, making this reunion particularly special for fans.
Produced by Sun Pictures, Coolie has already set a major record even before its release. It has become the highest overseas procurement for a Tamil film to date, reflecting Rajinikanth’s unmatched popularity and the global demand for Indian cinema.
The film’s storyline revolves around gold smuggling and promises high-voltage action and drama. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj has clarified that unlike his previous films such as Kaithi, Master, and Vikram, Coolie will not be a part of his larger Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). It will be a standalone narrative focused entirely on the character played by Rajinikanth.
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With chart-topping music, a powerful cast, and Rajinikanth’s magnetic presence, Coolie is easily one of the most awaited Indian films of the year. And thanks to Pooja Hegde’s revelation, fans now have one more reason to admire the effort behind the movie’s most energetic number.
