Rajinikanth, the legendary actor, producer and screenwriter who has dominated the Tamil film industry for over five decades, is celebrating his 72nd birthday today. Born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad in Bengaluru on 12 December 1950, he started his career as a bus conductor before joining the Madras Film Institute to pursue his passion for acting
| Name | Rajinikanth |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shivaji Rao Gaekwad |
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1950 |
| Place of Birth | Bangalore, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India |
| Occupation | Actor, Producer, Screenwriter |
| Years Active | 1975 – Present |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Latha Rajinikanth (m. 1981) |
| Children | Aishwarya Rajinikanth, Soundarya Rajinikanth |
| Known For | Superstar of the Tamil film industry, often referred to as “Thalaivar” |
| Film Debut | “Apoorva Raagangal” (1975) |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Filmfare Awards, Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and many more |
| Popular Films | “Baasha,” “Sivaji,” “Enthiran,” “Kabali” |
He made his debut in K. Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal in 1975, and soon rose to fame with his charismatic screen presence, unique style and powerful dialogues. He played a variety of roles, ranging from villainous to heroic, in films across Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali languages. He has acted in more than 160 films till date, and has a huge fan base across South India and abroad
Some of his most memorable films include Billa (1980), Moondru Mugam (1982), Andhaa Kaanoon (1983), Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984), Padikkadavan (1985), Mr. Bharath (1986), Velaikaran (1987), Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988), Thalapathi (1991), Annaamalai (1992), Baashha (1995), Muthu (1995), Arunachalam (1997), Padayappa (1999), Sivaji (2007), Enthiran (2010), Kabali (2016) and 2.0 (2018). He is also known for his philanthropic activities and social causes
Rajinikanth has been honoured with several awards and recognitions for his contributions to Indian cinema. He has won six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards South, two Cinema Express Awards and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor. He has also received the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019 from the Government of India. He was also conferred with the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year at the International Film Festival of India in 2014
Rajinikanth is married to Latha Rajinikanth, a producer and singer, since 1981. They have two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya, who are both filmmakers. He also has four grandchildren. He lives in a bungalow in Poes Garden, Chennai. His hobbies include travelling, reading and gardening. He is fond of masala dosa, Amitabh Bachchan and Ilayaraja. He follows Hinduism and is inspired by spiritual leaders like Swami Satchidananda and Sri Raghavendra
Rajinikanth is currently working on his upcoming film Annaatthe, directed by Siva and produced by Sun Pictures. The film is expected to release in April 2022. He has also announced his political entry in December 2017, but has not launched his party yet due to health reasons. He has expressed his support for various issues such as interlinking of rivers, Jallikattu and Cauvery water dispute. He has also faced some controversies such as protests against his visit to Sri Lanka and legal notices for using his name without his consent
Rajinikanth is undoubtedly one of the most influential and popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. He has earned the love and respect of millions of fans across the world with his charisma, talent and humility. He is a living legend who continues to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers with his passion and dedication
