Superstar Rajinikanth, affectionately known as Thalaivar, is a name that resonates with unparalleled stardom and admiration in the Indian film industry. With a career spanning over five decades, this cinematic icon has enthralled audiences with his unmatched charisma, versatility, and signature style.
From his humble beginnings to becoming one of the highest-paid actors in Asia, Rajinikanth has been a prime example of how perseverance and passion can move mountains. As the global icon turns 74 today (December 12), let’s look at few lesser-known facts about his life.
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Rags To Riches
Rajinikanth was just another common man trying to make ends meet by juggling jobs, until he decided to leave everything behind and pursue his passion for acting. Before becoming an actor, the Thalaivar worked not only as a coolie and carpenter but also as a bus conductor. During his struggling days, he would dress up nicely to impress girls and collect tickets in style, earning him fame within his social circle. However, he later decided to take a chance and joined the Madras Film Institute to study acting.
From Shivaji To Thalaivar
Born into a Marathi family in Bangalore, Rajinikanth was originally named Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, after Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji. He grew up in a humble household and learned Marathi and Kannada. But after he began his career as an actor, his mentor and director K. Balachander, suggested to change his stage name to Rajinikanth. His mass appeal then led to fans giving him the tag of Thalaivar – a Tamil word meaning superstar.
Big B’s Biggest Fan
After dominating the southern film industry, Rajinikanth made his Hindi film debut in 1983 with Andhaa Kanoon, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan. Rajinikanth has often spoken about being inspired by Big B and later remade over a dozen of his films in Tamil, including Namak Halaal, Deewar, and Don. All these films were huge hits in the South and further solidified his position as a superstar. Big B and Rajinikanth reunited on screen in the 2024 release ‘Vettaiyan’, marking their first collaboration in 33 years.
Rajinikanth’s Work As Study Material!
Rajinikanth, a global icon, has the unique distinction of being the only actor whose life story and struggles are included in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus. The lesson, ‘From Bus Conductor to Superstar,’ is featured under the category ‘Dignity of Work’ and is taught to sixth-standard students. Furthermore, Rajinikanth’s popular sci-fi film ‘Enthiran’ has been included as a case study in a postgraduate elective course at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A). ‘In addition, ‘Enthiran’ has earned the distinction of being the only Tamil movie to be listed among IMDb’s Top 50 films from around the globe.
