One of the greatest movie icons and modern-day legends in India, his life is truly the stuff dreams are made of. Neeti Jaychander takes a look at the phenomenon that is Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth’s life story is more dramatic and extraordinary than the plot of any of his movies. Born in Bangalore in a Maharastrian family of modest means, he was named Shivaji Rao Gaekwad after the great Maratha warrior. Sixty-six years later, he’s the superstar of Tamil cinema, and a living legend in every sense of the word.
Life before cinema
Raj Bahadur, Rajinikanth’s childhood friend, reminisces, “Losing his mother when he was young, Rajini was raised at Ramakrishna Math, with his education sponsored by the charitable trust. In 1970, we were working together at the Bangalore Transport Service. I was a driver and he was a conductor. We worked for three years on bus route 10A shuttling between Srinagar and Majestic Bus Station, Bangalore. Even if there was an empty bus ahead of us, people would wait to board 10A—it was a pleasure watching Rajini whistle and distribute tickets with style. He had a huge fan base even then.”
To Bahadur, who remembers that acting was even then a part of Rajinikanth’s life, the superstar is still his old friend Shivaji Rao. “We have 45 years of friendship behind us. I forced him to shift to Chennai and join the Madras Film Institute to sharpen his skills. I convinced him that he had in him the fire to become a big actor and assured him that I would take care of his expenses for two years.”
A star is born
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
10 Reasons Why Seychelles Could Be Your Dream Destination
Seychelles hits all the high notes on the romance roster whether you're on honeymoon or a love break.
THE GOODNESS OF GHEE
What: The Pure Cow Ghee range for babies with sensitive skin from Himalaya Babycare
Hello Hyderabad!
The Kaftan Company makes its debut in Hyderabad with a physical store
A COSMIC CULINARY JOURNEY
Located in the vibrant heart of Kolkata, That Place Bowl & Bar aims to be something out of the ordinary
BIG ON THE SCREEN
Writer-director INDIRA DHAR is no newcomer to international film festivals, but a standing ovation at Cannes for her latest film was an unforgettable experience. She talks to Shraddha Kamdar about the inspiration, her love for films and more
COMMAND RESPECT EFFORTLESSLY
Try these strategies if you hate not being taken seriously.
FIND CALM IN CHAOS
Deal with difficult situations using the principles of stoicism.
GREENER IN THE CUP
Samiksha Bhowmik details why a cup of matcha needs to be part of your diet
THE BEST OF TWO VIBRANT WORLDS
LYLA, in Mumbai's BKC, seamlessly blends Central American vibrancy with Californian flair
A Melange Of the Middle East & Indian Spices
Bringing contemporary twists to tradition, MERCHANT & ME is a youthful urban space for cuisine and cocktails in Pune