Well known as a super star Rajnikanth also known as Shivaji Rao Gaewad has showed what is Tamil cinema acting to the world. So how did this popular star get started in acting?

According to sources he was acting in plays while working as a bus conductor. In 1973 he joined the Madras Film Institute to pursue his studies in acting. He embarked his acting career in K. Balachander’s Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal (1975). He got more famous after earning ₹26 crore (equivalent to ₹55 crore or US$8.2 million in 2016) for his role in Sivaji (2007).

His Films –
In 1978, Rajinikanth went on to star in 20 different films across Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. He then played an important role in Aayiram Jenmangal which was a supernatural thriller. He then appeared as a prime antagonist in Maathu Tappada Maga, which happened to be his 25th release.

By 1980, he became a popular actor in the South Indian cinema. During this period, Rajinikanth abruptly chose to quit acting, but was persuaded back. He made a comeback with the Tamil film Billa, which was a remake of the Bollywood film Don (1978).

In 1983, he starred in his first Bollywood film, Andha Kanoon, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. The film went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of that time.

His film Muthu, a remake of Malayalam movie Thenmavin Kombathu, was another commercial success, directed by K. S. Ravikumar, and became the first Tamil film to be dubbed into Japanese.

Rajinikanth released his last film of the millennium with Padayappa (1999) which went on to become a blockbuster success.

Two years later, Rajinikanth signed up for P. Vasu’s Chandramukhi (2005), a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu. Upon release the film was highly successful at the box-office, and in 2007 it set the record of being the longest running Tamil film. Chandramukhi was also dubbed in Turkish and German as Der Geisterjäger and released in the respective nations.

Rajinikanth worked again with Shankar for the science fiction film, Enthiran. The film was released worldwide in 2010 as the most expensive Indian film ever made.
Rajinikanth has often been referred to as the most popular film actor in South India by the media and audiences.

Rajni with Social Media –
After opening his official Twitter account in 2014, Rajinikanth received more than 220,000 followers within 24-hours which was the fastest rate of followers for any Indian celeb.

Politics –
Fans of Rajinikanth in Tamil Nadu have continuously speculated his entry in politics, particularly to run for Chief Minister of the state. In 2008, a few fans in Coimbatore launched a political party for Rajinikanth. However, Rajinikanth submitted an open letter to all, declaring that he had no connection with politics and requested fans not to indulge in such activities. He was stoic about the issue.

Awards –
As of 2014, Rajnikanth won 6 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards which included four Best Actor Awards and two Special Awards for Best Actor and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award. At the 45th International Film Festival of India (2014), he was conferred with the “Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year”.

Personal Life –
Rajinikanth married Latha Rangachari, a student of Ethiraj College for Woman, who interviewed him for a magazine. The marriage took place on 26 February 1981, in Tirupati. The couple have two daughters named Aishwarya and Soundarya.
Aishwarya married actor Dhanush on 18 November 2004 and they have two sons. His younger daughter, Soundarya, married industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar on 3 September 2010 and have a son.

We wish actor Rajni all the best for his forthcoming movies. – Celebrity Jam