'Crowds Will Go Crazy'

Jaya and Karunanidhi out of the way, Rajinikanth now seeks a lead role in Tamil Politics.

- G.C.Shekhar

“EN vazhi, thani vazhi” (My path is a path apart)—that famous punchline from superstar Rajinikanth’s hit movie Padayappa—is all set to come true. Finally, after decades of dithering, Tamil cinema’s superstar seems close to taking the political plunge. And, as promised, he would be charting his own path by launching a new party.

During a meeting with his fans recently, when he took photographs with them, Rajinikanth vaguely outlined his political intent. “If god so wills it, I will enter politics. And those who want to make money from politics will be kept away,” were his opening remarks. In his concluding remarks, he asked his fans to get back to their work and report when the “war” is announced (comparing elections with war). Having raised their expectations sky high, the 67­year­old Rajinikanth cannot afford to retreat like he has done in the past—and his supporters assert that he won’t. “Once the movie assignments are wrapped up by October, Rajinikanth will make the announcement,” reveals a close confidant. “The new party and its agenda would be in place for the 2019 general elections. The groundwork has already commenced, with a few advisors already drawing up the blueprint. Rajinikanth wants to dominate the next phase of Tamil Nadu politics and he will.”