Happy Birthday Rajinikanth:
For his blockbuster blockbusters, the renowned Rajnikanth from Bollywood and the South Asian film business needs no introduction. Rajnikanth becomes 73 years old today. He was employed as a conductor and a coolie in his early years. Despite facing many obstacles as a youth, he is now experiencing professional success and has accumulated a fortune in the millions.
Let’s discuss his motivational journey and the challenges he encountered.
Rajnikanth: Rajinikanth’s career was full of struggle.
Rajnikanth was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, on December 12, 1950, into a Marathi family. His true name is Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, not Rajnikanth. His parents gave him the name Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in honour of the legendary Maratha warrior ruler. Regretfully, his mother died when he was just 4 years old. Bangalore was the location of Rajnikanth’s education.
Rajnikanth was a conductor, but his heart was longing for more. His dream was to be an actor in motion pictures. He began his career even as a bus conductor, performing in Kannada plays. With a friend’s assistance, Rajnikanth enrolled in the Madras Film Institute in 1973 to pursue his passion of being an actor in motion pictures and graduated with a diploma in acting.
Rajnikanth began his cinematic journey at the age of 25. His first Tamil film was ‘Apoorva Raagangal,’ where he starred alongside Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. Between 1975 and 1977, he mostly played negative roles opposite Kamal Haasan. His first lead role in a Tamil film was ‘Bhairavi’ in 1978, which became a hit and marked the beginning of Rajnikanth’s stardom.
Rajnikanth continued his career after that, releasing a string of critically acclaimed films one after the other. His unique style became a distinctive feature that catapulted him to superstardom in the South Indian film industry. After achieving success in the southern circuits, Rajnikanth ventured into Bollywood with the movie “Andha Kanoon.” His charismatic persona and authoritative performances won over hearts among Bollywood audiences. Whether it was the flick of his cigarette, the flip of a coin, or his distinct style of putting on spectacles and having a good laugh with someone, Rajnikanth’s distinct appeal went viral and won him fans from all over the world.
Rajnikanth: Rajinikanth loves his family very much
At the age of 31, Rajnikanth tied the knot with Latha on February 26, 1981. They have two daughters. The elder one, Aishwarya Rajnikanth, is a director and is married to actor Dhanush. Meanwhile, their younger daughter, Soundarya Rajnikanth, is a director, producer, and graphic designer.
Rajnikanth: Rajinikanth has remaked about 11 films
Rajnikanth had a keen interest in acting since childhood. His friends were a significant help during his acting lessons. It was during this time that he had a chance encounter with film director Balachandr. Balachandr was impressed after meeting Rajnikanth. Following this, he offered Rajni a chance to work in his film ‘Apurva Ragnagala.’ However, the film didn’t bring Rajnikanth much fame.
It wasn’t until 1978 when the film ‘Don,’ starring Amitabh Bachchan, was released. A remake of this film, titled ‘Billa,’ was made in the South, and it turned out to be a superhit. This film became Rajnikanth’s breakthrough, and he gained recognition from it. Rajnikanth is a big fan of Amitabh Bachchan, and this admiration reflects in his work. He has remade approximately 11 films of Amitabh Bachchan in his cinematic career so far. According to him, Amitabh’s films inspire him.
Rajnikanth: Rajinikanth did more than 100 films in 10 years
Rajnikanth’s career graph has skyrocketed at an incredible pace. The actor has managed to star in more than 100 films in just 10 years. In the South, people consider Rajnikanth as a deity, affectionately calling him “Thalaiva,” which translates to superstar. Rajnikanth tied the knot with Lata Rajnikanth in 1981, and they have two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya Rajnikanth.
The people in the South not only address him as Thalaiva but also consider him nothing less than a superstar. Rajnikanth’s net worth is around 430 crores. His popularity has reached divine proportions, and it’s no wonder he’s celebrated as a living legend in the world of cinema.
Rajnikanth: Rajinikanth received many awards
The superstar honored with the Padma Vibhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award was named ‘The Most Influential Indian’ by Forbes India in 2010. In 2021, Rajnikanth was also bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Rajnikanth: Rajinikanth when coins were banned in theaters
There was a period when Rajnikanth’s films had such a huge fan base that after seeing them, people would start jumping around and throwing coins out of their pockets with excitement. The coins being flung around caused multiple movie screens to get broken as a result. After that, it became illegal to bring coins into the movie theatre.
