Was Monica from Rajinikanth's Coolie the Most Physically Demanding Song for Pooja Hegde?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Pooja Hegde performed one of her most physically demanding roles in 'Monica'.
- The song was filmed during her fast on Mahashivratri.
- 'Monica' has achieved over 21 million views across platforms.
- 'Coolie' features a well-known cast and revolves around gold smuggling.
- The film is a standalone project by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
Chennai, July 17 (NationPress) Actress Pooja Hegde, known for her elegant dance performances, has revealed that the sensational superhit track 'Monica' from Rajinikanth's 'Coolie' was among the most physically challenging songs she has ever performed in her career.
The actress shared that she danced to this high-energy number while fasting for Mahashivratri.
In an Instagram post featuring behind-the-scenes clips from the song's shoot, she expressed her gratitude for the love she has received, stating, "Thank you for all the love on Monica. Monica was one of the most physically demanding songs of my career."
Pooja elaborated, "Battling extreme heat, sunburn that left tan lines for months, humidity, dust, blisters, and the high-energy dance moves (this was my first intense dance shoot post my ligament tear)... all while ensuring it looked glamorous and effortless was key. I poured my heart into Monica, and I promise it’s going to be a treat in theaters. Let’s dance!"
She also acknowledged her fellow dancers, saying, "A special shoutout to the dancers who supported me throughout this journey, especially on Mahashivratri while I was fasting. You were truly amazing! #monica #coolie."
The song has quickly become a chart-topping hit, trending since its release. Sun Pictures, the film's production house, announced that the song has amassed an impressive 21 million views. The Tamil version alone has received over 15 million views, the Telugu version over five million, and the Hindi version has surpassed a million views.
Produced by Sun Pictures, 'Coolie' has already gained acclaim for achieving the highest overseas earnings for a Tamil film to date.
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film features a star-studded cast, including Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, and Shruti Haasan.
The music is composed by Anirudh, marking his fourth collaboration with director Lokesh Kanagaraj. Cinematography is handled by Girish Gangadharan and editing by Philomin Raj.
Fans are eagerly anticipating the film, especially since it features Sathyaraj and Rajinikanth together for the first time in nearly 38 years. The duo last appeared together in the blockbuster 'Mr Bharath', released in 1986 where Sathyaraj portrayed Rajinikanth's father. Notably, Sathyaraj had previously declined opportunities to appear in Rajinikanth's films such as 'Enthiran' and 'Sivaji'.
'Coolie', which marks Rajinikanth's 171st film, will center around gold smuggling. Interestingly, director Lokesh Kanagaraj has confirmed that 'Coolie' will be a standalone film and not part of his Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU).