Profile of Rajnikanth on Famous Like Me

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, the Tamil-language actor more popularly known as Rajinikanth, is India's highest-paid actor. Considered to be one of the most popular Tamil movie stars, his fans call him the Super Star of Tamil Cinema. He is also the only Indian actor with 3000 fans in Japan.

Birth and early life

Rajinikanth was born on December 12, 1950 in Karnataka, India. He was the fourth child to his parents Ramabai and Ramoji Rao Gaekwad. He lost his mother at a tender age of 5. He had his schooling at the Acharya Patasala in Bangalore and then at the Vivekananda Balak Sangh, a unit of the Ramakrishna Mission.

Before starting his career in the film industry, He had to take up all sorts of odd jobs. He served as a bus conductor for Karnataka state transport corporation in Bangalore. It was during this time, that he nurtured his acting interests by performing in various stage plays.

Acting career

Powered by a strong desire to become an actor, Rajinikanth went to Madras, the tinsel town of Tamil Cinema. He was helped by a friend to join the Madras Film institute and completed his acting course in 1974.

Rajinikanth got his first break in movies when he played a small role as a cancer patient in the movie Apoorva Raagangal (1975). This film was directed by K. Balachandar, whom Rajinikanth considers his mentor, and who named him Rajnikant. This movie also starred Kamal Hassan in the lead role, who became one of his closest friends. The movie that fetched Rajinikanth a wide recognition was Moondru Mudichu (1976), in which he played the role of a cruel womanizer. He followed it up with movies like 16 vayadhinile , Gayathri, which cast him in villainous and anti-hero roles. Director S. P. Muthuraman first experimented with him in a positive role in Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri, in which Rajinikanth played a villain in the first half and a refined man in the second. Then Rajinikanth slowly moved on to playing positive and character roles in movies like Mullum malarum, Arilirundhu arubathu varai. Films Billa, Pokkiri raja and the like saw him playing stylish action roles while Murattu kalai, Payum puli and Moondru mugam took him to dizzy heights. He was also good at comedy as can be seen in Thillu mullu (1981). But the most unique among his movies was Sri Raghavendra (1985) —his 100th film— which was a biographical portrait of Hindu saint Raghavendra Swami.

The late 1980s saw him doing more and more action oriented family entertrainers like Velaikkaran, Manidhan, Dharmathin thalaivan,... and it was never looking back for Rajinikanth.

His movies made in the 1990s became mass blockbusters. Some of these include Annamalai, Baasha, Padayappa. These movies also had a tinge of politics.

His Latest movie Chandramuki (April 2005) has been breaking box office records all over Tamil Nadu after his previous movie Baba (2002) flopped.

Rajinikanth is popular for his flamboyant dialogue delivery and characteristic mannerisms. While contemporary actor Kamal Hassan selects performance oriented roles, Rajinikanth's movies has been mass entertainers. His movies invariably has a 'good win over evil' theme with entertaining action sequences, catcy songs and good natured humour, which makes his films liked by people of all age groups and all walks of life.

Rajinikanth has acted in over 170 films including movies in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Bengali. He has also acted in one Hollywood movie (Blood stone in 1988). He has acted along with notable actors like Sivaji Ganesan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Hassan and Sridevi. He has worked with famous directors like Mani Ratnam and Bharatirajaa.

His latest film titled 'Sivaji' has started and the famous Director Shankar of Tamil Industry will direct this film too.

Popularity

Fans of Rajinikanth in Tamil Nadu consider every one of his release a festival and perform paal abishekams to his 'cut-out' images (bathe his giant hoarding images with milk). His films are no less enthusiastically celebrated by Tamil people migrated to and living in other countries.

Rajinikanth has a huge fan following in Japan.

He is considered to be the only actor in Indian cinema who guarantees super-hits of all his films. It is widely said that a Rajni movie can return box-office earnings of more than Rs. 50 crores [ Page 29 (pdf)]. At the same time, one of his recent releases Baba proved to be a disaster.

He has more than 50,000 fan clubs in Tamil Nadu.

At the age of 55, he remains one of the biggest film stars in India

Rajinikanth and spirituality

Rajinikanth espouses a spiritual outlook towards life, both in the roles he plays in movies as well as his personal life. He has claimed tutelage from Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sri Raghavendra. Rajinikanth frequently makes pilgrimages to shrines in the Himalayas and Rishikesh. He is seen as a well-rounded person by his fans, partly due to his espousal of spiritual causes.

Influence in politics

Rajinikanth has played a role in Tamil Nadu politics as well. In 1996, he was important in the defeat of the ruling AIADMK party in the Tamilnadu assembly elections. His one interview on Doordarshan, India's national Television proclaimed him King-maker when he supported the DMK-TMC combine and helped them come to power. Amid speculations about him participating in future elections, he continues to act in films and keep reasonably away from politics.

He was rated as one of the most influential persons in South Asia by Asiaweek.

Family

Rajinikanth married Latha on 26 February 1981. He has two daughters, Aishwarya and Sowndarya. His first daughter Aishwarya married Dhanush, an upcoming actor on November 18, 2004.

Filmography

1. Apoorva Raagangal)
2. Katha Sangama
3. Anthuleni Katha
4. Moondru Mudichu
5. Baalu Jenu
6. Avargal
7. Kavikkuyil
8. Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram
9. Chilakamma Cheppindi
10. Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri
11. Ondu Premada Kathe
12. 16 Vayadhiniley
13. Sahodara Saval
14. Aadu Puli Attam
15. Gaayathri
16. Kumkuma Rakshe
17. Aarupushpangal
18. Tholireyi Gadichindi
19. Aame Katha
20. Galatta Samsara
21. Shankar Salim Simon
22. Killad Kittu
23. Annadammula Savaal
24. Aayiram Janmangal
25. Maathu Tappadamaga
26. Mangudi Minor
27. Bairavi
28. Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu
29. Sadurangam
30. Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye
31. Vayasu Pilichindi
32. Mullum Malarum
33.. Iraivan Kodutha Varam
34. Thappida Thala
35. Thappu Thalangal
36. Aval Appadithan
37. Thai Meethu Sathiyam
38. En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
39. Justice Gopinath
40. Priya
41. Priya
42. Kuppathu Raja
43. Iddaru Asadhyule
44. Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
45. Ninaithale Inikkum
46. Andhamaina Anubhavam
47. Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum
48. Dharma Yuddam
49. Naan Vazhavaippen
50. Tiger
51. Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
52. Annai Oru Alayam
53. Amma Evarikkaina Amma
54. Billa
55. Ram Robert Rahim
56. Anbukku Naan Adimai
57. Kali
58. Mayadari Krishnudu
59. Naan Potta Saval
60. Jhonny
61. Kali
62. Ellam Un Kairasi
63. Pollathavan
64. Murattu Kalai
65. Thee
66. Kazhugu
67. Thillu Mullu
68. Garjanai
69. Garjanam
70. Netrikan
71. Garjane
72. Ranuva Veeran
73. Pokkiri Raja
74. Thanikattu Raja
75. Ranga
76. Puthukavithai
77. Enkeyo Ketta Kural
78. Moondru Mugam
79. Paayum Puli
80. Thudikkum Karangal
81. Andhaa Kaanoon
82. Thai Veedu
83. Sivappu Suriyan
84. Jeet Hamaari
85. Adutha Varisu
86. Thanga Magan
87. Meri Adaalat
88. Naan Mahaan Alla
89. Thambikku Entha Ooru
90. Kai Kodukkum Kai
91. Ethe Naasaval
92. Anbulla Rajinikanth
93. Gangvaa
94. Nallavanuku Nallavan
95. John Jani Janardhan
96. Naan Sikappu Manithan
97. Mahaguru
98. Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal
99. Wafadaar
100. Sri Raghavendra
101. Bewafai
102 Padikkadavan
103 Mr.Bharath
104 Nann Adimai Illai
105 Jeevana Poratam
106 Viduthalai
107 Bhagawann Dada
108 Asli Naqli
109 Dosti Dhushman
110 Maaveeran
111 Velaikaran
112 Insaff Kaun Karega
113 Oorkavalan
114 Manithan
115 Uttar Dakshan
116 Tamacha
117 Guru Sishyan
118 Dharmathin Thalaivan
119 BloodStone
120 Kodi Parakuthu
121 Rajathi Raja
122 Siva
123 Raja Chinna Roja
124 Mappillai
125 Bhrashtachar
126 Chaalbaaz
127. Panakkaran
128 Athisaya Piravi
129 Dharmadorai
130 Hum
131 Farishtay
132 Khoon Ka Karz
133 Phool Bane Angaray
134. Nattukku Oru Nallavan
135. Dalapathi
136. Mannan
137. Tyagi
138. Annamalai
139. Pandiyan
140. Insaniyat Ke Devta
141. Yejaman
142. Uzhaippali
143. Valli
144. Veera
145. Baasha
146. Peddarayudu
146. Aatank Hi Aatank (Hindi)
148. Muthu
149. Bhagyadevta
150. Arunachalam
151. Padaiyappa
152. Baba
153. Chandramukhi
154. Sivaji (Next Release)

External Links

• #1 Rajinikanth fan site
• Rajnikanth Gallery
• #2 Rajinikanth fan site
• Rajinikanth unofficial fan page from Osaka (Japanese)
• Rajnikant's recent visit to the Himalayas
• Rajnikant - The Legend in Tamil Cinema
• Rajinikanth's profile at nilacharal
• Thalapathi - Classic Movie Review with Gallery
• Thillu Mullu - Classic Movie Review with Gallery
• Cinesouth's List of Tamil movies Rajinikanth acted, produced and written screenplay
• IMDB Bio
• 25 feet hoarding put up in front of Naga theatre in Bangalore while screening of Chandramukhi

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Rajnikanth