War (2019) is a Hrithik Roshan-lead Siddharth Anand movie, that released as the third film in the Yash Raj Films-backed YRF Spy universe. Actor Hrithik Roshan is returning as Major Kabir Dhaliwal, a rogue RAW agent, in this film's sequel War 2, directed this time by Ayan Mukherjee, co-starring Jr. NTR, and releasing on August 14, 2025, the same day as Rajinikanth's Tamil film Coolie.
The Coolie Vs War 2 box-office competition has been a big topic on Indian social media, considering that Coolie also marks the Tamil debut of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, who plays an extended cameo in Rajinikanth's film. Coolie star Rajinikanth is 74 years old, and the film's release day also marks 50 years of the actor thriving as a lead Superstar in the Tamil film industry.
Hrithik, who is currently 51, made his official debut as a child artist, playing Rajinikanth's adopted son in a movie titled Bhagwaan Dada (1986). [Incidentally Hrithik Roshan has an adopted daughter in War 2]. Bhagwaan Dada was directed by Hrithik's maternal grandfather Jay Om Prakash, was produced by Hrithik's filmmaker father Rakesh Roshan who also played a role in the movie, and had music by Hrithik's paternal uncle Rajesh Roshan.
Amidst all the Coolie Vs War 2 buzz, Hrithik Roshan took to his official X handle to recall Bhagwaan Dada and wrote a tribute to Rajinikanth on account of the latter's golden jubilee year. "Took my first steps as an actor at your side. You were one of my first teachers, @rajinikanth sir, and continue to be an inspiration and a standard. Congratulations on completing 50 years of on-screen magic!"
Took my first steps as an actor at your side. You were one of my first teachers, @rajinikanth sir, and continue to be an inspiration and a standard. Congratulations on completing 50 years of on-screen magic!
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) August 13, 2025
Earlier this year, at the trailer launch of the Netflix documentary The Roshans, Hrithik had recalled about working with Rajinikanth on Bhagwaan Dada. Describing the picture from the 1986 film sets, Hrithik had said,
“This is a photograph of a very ignorant little foolish boy who had no idea that he was standing with the greatest legend of all time. For me he was Rajini uncle. I had my way with him. Today if I get a chance to work with him, I will be very different. I will realise the burden and the weight of the moment that I am sharing screen space with him.”
Another interesting trivia in the Coolie Vs War 2 saga is that Rainikanth reprises his dockyard worker avatar from Thee (1981) in Coolie (2025). Thee is the official Tamil remake of the Yash Chopra directed Deewar (1975), and now decades later Coolie is clashing with War 2, a film produced by the now late Yash Chopra founded production banner.