Rajinikanth's Coolie directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj which released amidst huge expectations failed at the box office. The film had many cameos from the likes of Nagarjuna, Upendra and Aamir Khan.
Fans criticised Lokesh Kanagara for the poor characterisations and Upendra reacted to the criticism. He said "I did Coolie only for Rajini sir. I have never even dreamt that I would work with Rajini sir, so I can't even call this opportunity a dream come true. I am not just a fan of his performance; I am his devotee. He is an inspiration to me for his performance, his talent, his philosophy and his way of life. Thalaivar is Thalaivar."
He said "For him, even if I was called for just one shot, I would've done it readily. I have no qualms about my screentime when it comes to sharing the screen with him. I am good even if I only got the chance to stand next to him. Initially, I signed the film when I had only one fight scene. Later, they further developed my character for a couple more scenes,"