Rajinikanth, a name synonymous with Indian cinema, enjoys global recognition. This blog post delves into the life and career of this iconic superstar, exploring his journey from humble beginnings to phenomenal success.

Biography/Wiki

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, born December 12, 1950, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is better known as Rajinikanth. This multifaceted personality is an actor, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. His life story is one of remarkable transformation; from a bus conductor in Bangalore Transport Service to a celebrated actor with a massive global following. He’s acted in various Indian languages including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Bengali films, significantly impacting the film industry.

Physical Appearance

Rajinikanth possesses a charismatic presence. He stands at 5’8″ tall and weighs approximately 75 kg. His dark brown eyes and semi-bald head with gray hair are distinctive features.

Family, Affair, Wife & Religion

Born into a Kshatriya Maratha family with Tamil ancestry, his father, Ramojirao Gaekwad, was a police constable, and his mother, Jijabai, was a homemaker. Rajinikanth has two brothers, Satyanarayana Rao and Nageshwara Rao, and a sister, Aswath Balubhai. He tragically lost his mother at a young age.

He met his wife, Latha Parthasarathy, during an interview and proposed to her the same day. They married on February 26, 1981, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, and have two daughters: Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Soundarya Rajinikanth.

Before marrying Latha, he was reportedly in a relationship with actress Silk Smitha. Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral Yoga, was his spiritual guru.

Career

Rajinikanth’s education included Acharya Paathshala and Vivekananda Balaka Sangha school in Bangalore. Before his acting career, he worked in various jobs, including as a carpenter and coolie, to support himself. He later became a bus conductor. With financial assistance from a friend, Raj Bahadur, he joined the Madras Film Institute. A chance encounter with director K. Balachander during a stage play led to his acting debut.

Initially struggling with Tamil fluency, he quickly mastered the language. His debut Tamil film was “Apoorva Raagangal” (1975) alongside Kamal Haasan. He initially played negative roles, gaining recognition with the Telugu film “Chilakamma Cheppindi” (1977). His first major commercial success was “Billa” (1980), a remake of “Don”.

His career spanned diverse roles, including that of a Hindu saint in his 100th film, “Sri Raghavendra”. He starred in the Indian-American action-adventure film “Bloodstone” (1988) and “Raaja Chinna Roja” (1989), the first animated Tamil film. “Thalapathi” (1991) holds the distinction of being his only film with a U/A certificate. He also made a cameo appearance in Shah Rukh Khan’s “Ra.One” (2011). Meena is unique in having acted with him as a child actor and later as a leading lady.

Social Work

Rajinikanth has demonstrated his commitment to social causes. He undertook fasts to protest against the Karnataka government’s water allocation policies and to advocate for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. He also supported Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement by providing his marriage hall for the cause.

Money Factor

Rajinikanth’s financial success is undeniable. He owns Raghavendra Mandapam, a marriage hall in Chennai. His impressive car collection includes a Premier Padmini Fiat, Chevrolet Tavera, Toyota Innova, Ambassador, Honda Civic, Lamborghini Urus, and BMW X7. His motorcycle collection boasts a Suzuki Hayabusa and a Suzuki Intruder M1800 RZ. His current salary is reportedly ?40-45 crore per film, and his net worth is estimated at ?400 crore (as of 2024).

Awards & Honours

His accolades include:

• 2000: Padma Bhushan
• 2014: Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year
• 2016: Padma Vibhushan
• 2021: Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Controversies

Rajinikanth’s career has not been without its controversies. Legal challenges include a name change for his Bollywood film and a legal dispute involving a relative. He also faced criticism for his handling of a housing scheme for displaced Tamils and for an incident involving his house help.

Favourites

Here are some of Rajinikanth’s preferences:

• Dish: Masala Dosa
• Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Sylvester Stallone
• Actresses: Rekha, Hema Malini
• Film: Veera Kesari
• Musician: Ilayaraja
• Color: Black
• Books: Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki and Amma Vanthal by T. Janakiraman
• Politician: Lee Kuan Yew
• Social Activist: Anna Hazare
• Sport: Cricket

Facts

Rajinikanth has quit smoking but continues to consume alcohol. His famous cigarette-tossing style reportedly originated from attempts to impress a gang in his youth. He maintains a tradition of visiting the Himalayas after each film since 1995, and he is known for his punctuality. He has achieved legendary status in South India.

His birthday, December 12th, is celebrated as “World Style Day” or “International Style Day” by his fans. He was the highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan, and he notably covered the losses incurred by distributors for his films Baba and Kuselan.

He holds the distinction of being the first Indian actor to have worked in all four formats of filmmaking: Black & White, Color, Animation, and 3D. His recent role in “Jailer” cemented his position as the highest-paid actor in India once again.

Vehicles