Who is Monica Bellucci? The icon Pooja Hegde channels in Coolie’s ‘Monica’ song

The buzz around Coolie just got louder and more glamorous. The second song from the highly anticipated Rajinikanth-starrer dropped earlier this week, and it’s a glittering tribute to none other than Italian screen goddess Monica Bellucci. Titled 'Monica', the peppy dance number features Pooja Hegde in a dazzling retro-themed dance number that’s already making waves online.

The track is composed by Anirudh Ravichander and the song channels old-school glitz with a modern punch. The energetic beats and infectious hook pay homage not just to retro Tamil cinema aesthetics but also to Monica Bellucci’s timeless allure. Pooja’s glamorous avatar and the disco-style set design only heighten the track’s nostalgic mood.

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for his action-packed storytelling, helms Coolie, which is set to release on August 14, 2025. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Lokesh revealed that both he and Anirudh are long-time fans of Monica Bellucci. "Someone even sent her a message about the song," he said, thrilled by the global ripple the song is creating. The film also features a surprise cameo by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, adding another layer of star power to the magnum opus Rajinikanth project.

Watch Pooja Hegde and Soubin Shahir smash it in the ‘Monica’ song here:


So, who is Monica Bellucci?


Monica Bellucci is one of Italy’s most iconic actresses, renowned for her beauty, sensuality, and magnetic performances. She broke out internationally with acclaimed roles in Malèna (2000), The Matrix Reloaded, The Passion of the Christ, and later as a Bond girl in Spectre (2015). She remains a symbol of elegance and strength across European cinema and Hollywood alike. Fun fact: her daughter’s name is Deva — coincidentally also the name of Rajinikanth’s character in Coolie.

Hottest looks of Pooja Hegde

Pooja Hegde says Monica is the toughest song of her career

Meanwhile, actress Pooja Hegde took to her social media and shared a BTS glimpse of her performance. She wrote, "Thank you for all the love on Monica. Monica was one of the MOST physically toughest and demanding song of my career. Trying to combat the EXTREME heat, sun burn that’s left tan lines for months to come…. humidity, the dust, blisters and high energy dance moves (my first hectic dance shoot after my ligament tear).. and after all that, still making sure it looks GLAMOUROUS and effortless was the key. I gave my ALL to Monica and it’s gonna be a blast to watch in the theatres, I promise. Dance away. 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’ll were just amazingggg."

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