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Rajinikanth

Rajinikanth was born on December 12, 1950, as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad in Bangalore in the then Mysores State. His family was Maharashtrian, staying in Bangalore for many years. Shivaji Rao Gaekwad became Rajinikanth when he made his film debut in Tamil cinema. In his early days, he began working as a coolie, then a carpenter and finally a bus conductor, when his relative made him appear for an exam for bus conductors with the Bangalore transport corporation. Rajinikanth was a hit among the passengers, as he used style in even issuing tickets and tendering change. He began doing theatre in his spare time, and that is when his acting dream blossomed. MUST READ: Rajinikanth: 10 reasons why men hate the Superstar!

Rajinikanth was urged by a friend to join the Madras Film Institute and he completed his diploma in acting. Renowned director K Balachander launched him in the Tamil movie Apoorva Raagangal in 1975, and the rest, as they say, is history. Rajinikanth today is one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema, with a huge fan-following not just in India but also in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the US, among other countries.

Rajinikanth, fondly known as Thalaiva or Rajini Sir, has appeared in south Indian and Bollywood films and has been highly appreciated for his roles, whether in a commercial masala entertainer or a story-based movie. But not many know that he has also done a Hollywood film called Bloodstone in 1988, directed by Dwight H Little. Rajinikanth played the role of taxi driver Shyam Sabu, an important role in the film's story.

Rajinikanth has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016 for his contributions to art, by the Government of India. He was also honoured with the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year at the 45th International Film Festival of India, the Government of India's annual fim festival in Goa. According to information on the superstar, Rajinikanth has won six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, four Best Actor Awards, two Special Awards for Best Actor and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Tamil).

Rajinikanth is one of the highest paid actors in Asia. He earned ₹26 crore (US$8.5 million) for his film Sivaji: The Boss in 2007, making him the highest paid actor in Asia after Chinese superstar Jackie Chan. In spite of that, Rajinikanth remains humble. Beyond the arclights, he leads a simple life with his wife Lata and is deeply spiritual. The couple has two daughters, Aishwarya (married to National Award-winning actor Dhanush) and Soundarya (recently filed for divorce from her husband of six years, R Ashwin. Both his daughters are movie directors.

Rajinikanth recently provided ample hints at him wanting to join Indian politics soon. His forthcoming film is 2.0 (aka Robot 2.0), the sequel to Robot or Enthiran.

By Shweta Parande.

Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar's 2.0 to Release in China on THIS Date
India.com Entertainment Desk | June 3, 2019 9:18 PM IST
Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar's blockbuster film 2.0 which released in India on November 29, 2018, di...
Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar's 2.0 to Release in China on THIS Date
indiacom
2019-06-03T10:18:11+00:00
2019-06-03T10:18:11+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth, Kangana Ranaut, Karan Johar And Other Cine Powerhouse Attend PM Modi's Swearing-in
India.com Buzz Desk | May 30, 2019 9:00 PM IST
Papped right from the airport itself, film industry's biggies started pouring into the capital earli...
Rajinikanth, Kangana Ranaut, Karan Johar And Other Cine Powerhouse Attend PM Modi's Swearing-in
indiacom
2019-05-30T10:00:10+00:00
2019-05-30T10:00:10+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth Describes Modi as Charismatic Leader Similar to Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi
PTI | May 28, 2019 5:25 PM IST
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "charismatic" lea...
Rajinikanth Describes Modi as Charismatic Leader Similar to Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi
indiacom
2019-05-28T06:25:24+00:00
2019-05-28T06:25:24+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rahul Shouldn't Resign, he Should Prove he Can do it: Rajinikanth
India.com News Desk | May 28, 2019 2:43 PM IST
Chennai: Even as senior Congress leaders have been trying to convince party president Rahul Gandhi t...
Rahul Shouldn't Resign, he Should Prove he Can do it: Rajinikanth
indiacom
2019-05-28T03:43:37+00:00
2019-05-28T03:43:37+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan Invited For Swearing in of Narendra Modi as PM
PTI | May 27, 2019 9:19 PM IST
The top stars of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, have been invited for the May 30 sweari...
Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan Invited For Swearing in of Narendra Modi as PM
indiacom
2019-05-27T10:19:45+00:00
2019-05-27T10:19:45+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Suniel Shetty as Villain Opposite Rajinikanth in AR Murugadoss' Darbar, Read on
India.com Entertainment Desk | May 23, 2019 7:44 AM IST
Actor Suniel Shetty has been away from the mainstream cinema for a while but he's back with a bang. ...
Suniel Shetty as Villain Opposite Rajinikanth in AR Murugadoss' Darbar, Read on
indiacom
2019-05-22T20:44:12+00:00
2019-05-22T20:44:12+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Bhojpuri Sizzler Rani Chatterjee's New Song 'Silver Bindiya' Featuring Her Sexy Romance With Rajinikanth Shukla Goes Viral - Watch
India.com Buzz Desk | April 20, 2019 10:57 PM IST
Bhojpuri hot actor Rani Chatterjee s new song titled Silver Bindiya from the film Bemisal Khiladi fe...
Bhojpuri Sizzler Rani Chatterjee's New Song 'Silver Bindiya' Featuring Her Sexy Romance With Rajinikanth Shuk
indiacom
2019-04-20T11:57:45+00:00
2019-04-20T11:57:45+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
'I'm Ready', Rajinikanth May Contest Next Tamil Nadu Assembly Election
India.com News Desk | April 19, 2019 2:56 PM IST
New Delhi: Actor Rajinikanth on Friday said that 'he is ready' for contesting the state elections if...
'I'm Ready', Rajinikanth May Contest Next Tamil Nadu Assembly Election
indiacom
2019-04-19T03:56:00+00:00
2019-04-19T04:27:04+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Darbar First Look: Rajinikanth, Nayanthara Starrer Poster Makes Twitterati Excited For The Film, Says Can't Wait For The Movie
India.com Buzz Desk | April 9, 2019 10:54 AM IST
The much anticipated Rajinikanth s 167th flick Darbar first poster is finally out and the film goes ...
Darbar First Look: Rajinikanth, Nayanthara Starrer Poster Makes Twitterati Excited For The Film, Says Can't W
indiacom
2019-04-08T23:54:55+00:00
2019-04-08T23:55:24+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth's First Look From Thalaivar 167 Out, AR Murugadoss Film Titled 'Darbar'
India.com Entertainment Desk | April 9, 2019 10:05 AM IST
The first look of Rajinikanth's Thalaivar 167 is out and the makers have revealed the official title...
Rajinikanth's First Look From Thalaivar 167 Out, AR Murugadoss Film Titled 'Darbar'
indiacom
2019-04-08T23:05:53+00:00
2019-04-08T23:05:53+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
After Rajinikanth's Look From AR Murugadoss' Thalaivar 167 Gets Leaked, Makers Call For Strict Action
India.com Entertainment Desk | April 5, 2019 2:34 PM IST
Actor Rajinikanth's look from his next film, Thalaivar 167, with director AR Murugadoss, has reporte...
After Rajinikanth's Look From AR Murugadoss' Thalaivar 167 Gets Leaked, Makers Call For Strict Action
indiacom
2019-04-05T03:34:59+00:00
2019-04-05T03:34:59+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar-Starrer 2.0: High Court Directs to Block 12,000 Tamil Rockers Websites Over Piracy Threat
PTI | November 29, 2018 12:19 PM IST
As Akshay Kumar-Rajinikanth starrer 2.0 movie releases today, the Madras High Court has directed 37 ...
Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar-Starrer 2.0: High Court Directs to Block 12,000 Tamil Rockers Websites Over Piracy
indiacom
2018-11-29T01:19:07+00:00
2019-04-04T11:42:09+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Tamil Director J Mahendran, Known For Making Rajinikanth a Superstar, Dies at 79 in Chennai
India.com Entertainment Desk | April 2, 2019 9:37 AM IST
Veteran director J Mahendran, aged 79, passed away at his residence in Chennai early morning on Tues...
Tamil Director J Mahendran, Known For Making Rajinikanth a Superstar, Dies at 79 in Chennai
indiacom
2019-04-01T22:37:07+00:00
2019-04-01T22:37:07+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Not Just MS Dhoni, Rajinikanth Gets a Thalaivar Welcome at Chepauk During Indian T20 League Opener | WATCH VIDEO
India.com Sports Desk | March 23, 2019 8:49 PM IST
Superstar Rajinikanth is a very popular figure in the southern part of India, so is the case with fo...
Not Just MS Dhoni, Rajinikanth Gets a Thalaivar Welcome at Chepauk During Indian T20 League Opener | WATCH VI
indiacom
2019-03-23T09:49:27+00:00
2019-03-23T09:49:27+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Dhanush Welcomes Wife Aishwarya Dhanush to The Digital World as Latter Joins Instagram, See Post
India.com Entertainment Desk | February 25, 2019 7:22 PM IST
There are many celebrities who chose to be away from social media due to their own personal reasons....
Dhanush Welcomes Wife Aishwarya Dhanush to The Digital World as Latter Joins Instagram, See Post
indiacom
2019-02-25T08:22:35+00:00
2019-02-25T08:22:35+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth Breaks Silence on Contesting Lok Sabha Elections, Gives Out a Strict Statement
IANS | February 17, 2019 5:08 PM IST
Amid dragging speculation whether he will take the plunge or not, superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday, F...
Rajinikanth Breaks Silence on Contesting Lok Sabha Elections, Gives Out a Strict Statement
indiacom
2019-02-17T06:08:41+00:00
2019-02-17T06:08:41+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Rajinikanth Announces he Will Not Contest Polls, Advises People Which Party to Vote
India.com News Desk | February 17, 2019 12:34 PM IST
Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Sunday announced that he or his party will not be co...
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Rajinikanth Announces he Will Not Contest Polls, Advises People Which Party to Vote
indiacom
2019-02-17T01:34:00+00:00
2019-02-17T01:34:00+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Soundarya Rajinikanth Shares Honeymoon Pictures With Hubby Vishagan Vanangamudi From Iceland, Trolled For Second Marriage - Check Tweets
India.com Buzz Desk | February 16, 2019 4:41 PM IST
Superstar Rajinikanth s daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth tied the knot with Vishagan Vanangamudi in a ...
Soundarya Rajinikanth Shares Honeymoon Pictures With Hubby Vishagan Vanangamudi From Iceland, Trolled For Sec
indiacom
2019-02-16T05:41:12+00:00
2019-02-16T05:41:55+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Rajinikanth's Lovely Gesture For Guests at Her Daughter Soundarya's Wedding is What Makes Him a Superstar
India.com Entertainment Desk | February 13, 2019 7:44 PM IST
Superstar Rajinikanth has showed a lovely gesture for all those who came to bless his daughter Sound...
Rajinikanth's Lovely Gesture For Guests at Her Daughter Soundarya's Wedding is What Makes Him a Superstar
indiacom
2019-02-13T08:44:40+00:00
2019-02-13T08:44:40+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com
Soundarya Rajinikanth And Vishagan Vanangamudi Look Like a Match Made in Heaven at Their Wedding Reception
India.com Entertainment Desk | February 12, 2019 11:42 AM IST
Superstar Rajinikanth s daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth tied the knot with Vishagan Vanangamudi in Ch...
Soundarya Rajinikanth And Vishagan Vanangamudi Look Like a Match Made in Heaven at Their Wedding Reception
indiacom
2019-02-12T00:42:40+00:00
2019-02-12T00:42:40+00:00
Rajinikanth
India.com