There is no bigger superstar than Rajinikanth

Chennai

The kind of hysteria that Rajinikanth creates is unbelievable. Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, his journey began as a bus conductor, and today, Superstar Rajinikanth has a cult following that imitates his every mannerism. His fans consider him God and perform milk ablutions to his huge cut-outs in homage to the ‘First Day, First Show’ moment at the release of his films. They collect opening day ticket stubs, paying exorbitant prices for them. His character cannot be allowed to die in any movie for fear of his fans burning down the theatre in grief and rage. His entry on screen is usually explosive ‘like a tiger on screen’ and his songs are hummed on the street. His memorable one-liners punctuate conversations while a legion jokes about his invincibility pepper cyberspace.

After his debut in the film, Aboorva Raagangal (1975), he honed his acting skills with top directors, like his mentor the late Balachander, Mani Ratnam and Shankar and has evolved from villain to superhero. The upcoming film, Kabali, places him among the highest earning actors in Asia today. A few of Rajini’s movies did not do well and dragged him into financial and ethical controversies.

The superstar has a deeply spiritual bent and goes on regular retreats to the Himalayas to maintain his equilibrium.