Over half a century ago, when a tousle-haired young man with a loosely tied necktie entered the scene in Apoorva Ragangal, few anticipated he would transform the landscape of Tamil—and Indian—cinema. Yet, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, famously known as Rajinikanth, has achieved just that with ease.
Simply by being himself.
At public events, Rajinikanth confidently shows his bald head. The flamboyant cigarette flips and iconic punch lines he’s famous for are reserved for his films. I know this firsthand.
In 2012, as a rookie reporter for a Chennai-based paper, I covered the scene outside his Poes Garden residence, a posh area in South India. Fans from across Tamil Nadu and beyond gathered to glimpse their beloved film idol.
Similar to Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat or Amitabh Bachchan’s Jalsa in Mumbai.
December 12, Rajinikanth’s birthday, is a significant day for his fans. Fan clubs host blood donation camps, fund social causes, and distribute food to the needy. This year was special: 12/12/12, a palindrome. However, Rajinikanth hadn’t met fans in almost 20 years. Many hoped he would at least appear on his balcony.
I arrived at 10 AM to a carnival-like atmosphere. Fans dressed as characters from his films, imitating him non-stop. Loudspeakers blared his hit songs, while police tried to manage the crowds. Excitement was palpable.
I met a fan who cycled from Tiruvannamalai, 180 kilometers away, just to see his idol. Like others, he succeeded.
In a white kurta-pyjama, Rajinikanth gently scolded fans for the chaos. His home was near J Jayalalithaa’s, then Tamil Nadu’s chief minister known for strict law enforcement.
He shared a brief message: “You celebrate my birthday, and I thank you. But do you remember your parents’ birthdays? Prioritize and cherish their birthdays first.” Fans dispersed, and the police sighed in relief.
Julius Caesar might have said veni, vidi, vici.
Like many, I ponder how he keeps topping the charts. His last two films were hits; Jailer, where he plays a retired cop searching for his son, earned Rs 6.5 billion globally; Coolie made about Rs 5.2 billion, considered average!
His genuine public persona without makeup endears him to the masses. For example, a video of him joking about his pairing with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Enthiran (Robot in Hindi) shows self-deprecating humor.
Reinvention is key. After the 2014 flop Lingaa, he worked with emerging directors like Pa Ranjith, Karthik Subburaj, and Lokesh Kanagaraj, choosing roles fitting his age in films like Jailer, Petta, Kaala, and Kabali, while still leading.
Audiences from the ’70s and ’80s saw a dark-skinned hero, unlike predecessors MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, or even peer Kamal Haasan. Rajini’s persona might echo Chuck Norris, but he’s versatile. For every Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri, Mullum Malarum, or Aarulinthu Arubathuvarai showcasing his talent, there was an action-packed Murattu Kaalai, Moondru Mugam, Geraftaar, or Billa, a remake of Bachchan’s Don. When he reprised Amol Palekar’s role from Golmaal in Thillu Mullu, it matched the original.
As the superstar turns 75, contemplating a sequel to his 1999 hit Padayappa and a project with Haasan, we should enjoy his remarkable offerings. Actors with such broad appeal are rare.
