Rajinikanth

Biography

Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, better known as Rajinikanth, was born on 12 December 1950 and is one of India’s most iconic film actors, primarily associated with Tamil cinema. Over a career spanning more than fifty years, he has appeared in over 160 films across multiple languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam.

Renowned for his trademark dialogue delivery, unique screen presence, and charismatic style, Rajinikanth has earned an enormous fan following across India, developing a cult status unmatched by most actors. The Indian government recognized his contributions by awarding him the Padma Bhushan (2000), Padma Vibhushan (2016), and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2019)—the highest honor in Indian cinema.

Rajinikanth made his debut in K. Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal (1975). Early in his career, he often portrayed villainous roles, but films like Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977), Mullum Malarum (1978), and Aval Appadithan (1978) earned him critical praise; Mullum Malarum won him a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.

By the late 1970s, he was working across all South Indian film industries and had firmly established himself in Tamil cinema. His breakout commercial hit came with Billa (1980), in which he played dual roles and solidified his image as an action hero. He later took on a triple role in Moondru Mugam (1982), earning another Tamil Nadu State Special Prize, and entered Bollywood with the blockbuster Andhaa Kaanoon (1983).

His performance in Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984) won him the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor. Throughout the mid-1980s to early 1990s, he delivered several hits in both Tamil and Hindi, such as Padikkadavan, Mr. Bharath, Bhagwaan Dada, Velaikaran, Dharmathin Thalaivan, and Hum (1991). His role in Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi (1991) was widely acclaimed.

Rajinikanth collaborated frequently with director Suresh Krishna, especially on Annaamalai (1992) and Baashha (1995), the latter becoming a long-standing Tamil box-office record-breaker. Other major successes of the 1990s include Mannan, Uzhaippali, Muthu, and Padayappa (1999), the last of which became the highest-grossing Tamil film at the time.

After a brief break, he made a massive comeback with Chandramukhi (2005), again setting new box-office records. Shankar’s Sivaji (2007) became only the third Indian film to enter the 100 Crore Club. His performance in Enthiran (2010) and its sequel 2.0 (2018)—where he portrayed both a scientist and a humanoid robot—was part of two of the most expensive and highest-grossing Indian films ever made.

Over the years, Rajinikanth has received numerous honors, including a National Film Award, multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, a Nandi Award, and a Filmfare Award. He has been recognized internationally as well, being named among South Asia’s most influential people by Asiaweek and listed by Forbes India as the most influential Indian of 2010.