Kollywood Rajinikanth

PROFILE

Name : Rajnikanth

Birth Name : Shivaji Rao Gaekwad

Date of Birth : 12 December 1949

Place of Birth : Karnataka, India

Nickname : Superstar

Height : 5' 9" (1.75 m)

Weight : 70 Kg

Mother Tongue : Marathi

Profession : Film actor, producer, screenwriter

Education : Early education in Acharya Patasala and later in Raamakrishna Mission, Bangalore(PUC discontinued) Studied in the Film Institute

Earlier worked as : Carpenter, Bus Conductor

Marriage date : 26.02.1981

Guru : K.Balachander

Spiritual Guru : Satchithananda Swamiji

Spouse : Latha Rangachari(1981–present)

Daughters : Aishwarya & Sowandarya

Son-in-law : Dhanush

Grandson : Yatra

Father : Ramoji Rao

Mother : Rambhai

Sister : Shrimathi Aswathamma

Brothers : Sathya Narayana Rao & Nageshwara Rao

Favourite Dress :White Kurtha

Favourite Place : Himalaya

Favourite God : Shri Raghavendra

Favourite Books : Books written by Shri Ramana Maharishi

Favourite City : Chennai

Favourite Colour : Black

First Film : Aboorva Ragangal

50th Film : Tiger (Telugu)

100th Film : Shri Raghavendrar

125th Film : Rajathi Raja

150th Film : Padyappa

BIOGRAPHY

Rajinikanth is one of the most influential and bankable movie stars in Indian cinema. Rajinikanth real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. Rajinikanth was born on December 12, 1950 in Karnataka, India. Rajinikanth's mass popularity and appeal is largely drawn from his mannerisms and stylized delivery of dialogue. He received India's third highest honour, the Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to Indian cinema. Apart from his film career, he is a well known philanthropist and also serves as a notable political influence. Other than acting, Rajinikanth worked as a screenwriter, film producer and also a playback singer.Popularily referred to and credited in films as superstar and fondly called as thalaivar (meaning leader in Tamil), Rajinikanth debuted as an actor in 1975 under the direction of K. Balachander in supporting roles. He was later favored in portraying antagonistic characters and gradually rose to acting in lead roles. Being a well known film artist to several regional film industries of India, he also appeared in the cinemas of other nations, including Hollywood. He was reportedly paid Rs.26 crores (about $6.25 million USD) for his latest blockbuster Sivaji: The Boss, making him the highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan.


CAREER

As of 2010, Rajinikanth has acted in over 170 films, including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, English, and Bengali films. After the release of his first Bollywood film, Andha Kanoon, Rajinikanth did not make as much of an impact in the Mumbai-based industry as he did in the south. He still appeared in several Hindi films, such as Chaalbaaz, Uttar Dakshin, Giraftaar and Hum. He appeared in a supporting role in the American film Bloodstone, co-produced by Ashok Amritraj in 1988, with much fanfare in India at the time of its release. He also made brief stints in the German and Japanese film industries. His film Muthu was dubbed into Japanese and became a major hit in Japan. In 2005, his film Chandramukhi was dubbed in German and released in all German-speaking nations. Despite his first language being Marathi, Rajinikanth has not yet acted in any Marathi films.

Negative roles: 1975-1977
Rajinikanth debuted in Tamil cinema as a cancer patient in Apoorva Raagangal in 1975. The following year he acted in his first Kannada film, Katha Sangama which was directed by Puttanna Kanagal. He entered Telugu cinema through Anthuleni Katha, which was directed by K. Balachander, whom Rajinikanth has called his "guru" or mentor. Though Rajinikanth refers to director K. Balachander as his mentor, it was director S. P. Muthuraman who revamped Rajinikanth’s image entirely. Muthuraman first experimented with him in a positive role in Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri (1977), as a failed lover in the first half of the film and a protagonist in the second. Muthuraman has since directed Rajinikanth in 25 films. His film roles were sketchy either as a villain or as a supporting actor during the late 1970s, co-starring frequently with Kamal Haasan as the protagonist, in movies like 16 Vayadhinilae, Moondru Mudichu and Avargal, et al.

Breakthrough and success: 1978-1990
In 1978, Rajinikanth acted in the film Bairavi. This was the first Tamil film to cast him as a solo hero. Later Mullum Malarum won him critical acclaim. The success of Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri prompted Muthuraman to make a mushy melodrama with Rajinikanth as a hero sacrificing everything for his siblings in Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979). These films were the turning points in Rajinikanth’s career; he changed from an actor who merely enthralled the audiences to one who could also evoke emotions. The acceptance of Rajinikanth sans his stylized mannerisms proved he had at last become a "star" from a "common actor."
During this phase of his career, when he was reaching dazzling heights, Rajinikanth abruptly chose to quit acting, but was coaxed back. He continued acting with the blockbuster Tamil film Billa, which was a remake of the blockbuster Bollywood movie Don. Billa was followed by a row of hits, namely Murattu Kaalai, Pokkiri Raja, Thanikattu Raja, Naan Mahaan Alla and Moondru Mugam. K. Balachander’s first home production, Netrikan proved to be yet another milestone in Rajni’s career. He acted in his first cameo role alongside Meena Durairaj, who was a child actor then, in the movie Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984).
Though the decade was dominated by Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth still managed to outwit rivals like Mohan, Karthik, Prabu and Ramarajan with a steady stream of low-budget box-office hits throughout the 80s: Padikkathavan, Thee, Velaikaran, Dharmathin Thalaivan and Mr. Bharath. In his 100th movie, Sri Raghavendra, he played the Hindu saint Raghavendra Swami.

Domination: 1991-present
The majority of his movies released during the nineties were extremely successful, notably Thalapathy, Mannan, Annamalai, Veera, Badsha, Muthu and Padayappa. Rajinikanth wrote his first screenplay and made a special appearance in the film Valli (1993), which failed to make an impact at the box office. His film Badsha emerged as an industrial record. His film Muthu was the first Tamil film to be dubbed into Japanese (as Mutu: Odoru Maharaja) and grossed a record $1.6 million in Japan in 1998. In fact, its success in Japan led the American news magazine Newsweek to comment in a 1999 article that Rajinikanth had "supplanted Leonardo DiCaprio as Japan's trendiest heartthrob".
The new millennium began very well for Rajinikanth; Padayappa had reset the record of Badsha firmly entrenching his position in Tamil film history. Finally, after more than a three year sabbatical from cinema, at 52 years of age, he starred in his home production, Baba, which released on August 15, 2002 amid much fanfare and hype. The film did poorly at the box office due to a very weak screenplay, which Rajinikanth himself had written, in his second stint at screenplay-writing after Valli. The thin screenplay revolved around the story about a gangster who later engages in spirituality; it was a colossal disappointment and was viewed as a tremendous loss when compared to his previous box office successes throughout his career. It fell short of market expectations and the high bids reportedly translated to heavy losses for the distributors. Rajinikanth himself repaid the losses incurred by the distributors.
After the Baba debacle, Rajinikanth mulled over numerous scripts with many directors, including K. S. Ravikumar, and finally chose to act in director P. Vasu's film Chandramukhi. Many people within the industry had written Rajinikanth off after the Baba fiasco, essentially saying "the bloom was off the rose" and that "the gold does not glitter anymore". In essence, many viewed Chandramukhi as Rajinikanth's comeback film, his make or break movie and in the end, when it was released on April 14, 2005, it went on to create new box office records and smashed his own previous records and once and for all removed any doubt within the industry with regards to Rajinikanth's box office clout and incomparable appeal to the masses. Chandramukhi broke the record of being the longest running Tamil film, as of 2007.
Just after Chandramukhi's release, it was reported that AVM Productions were to produce a film directed by S. Shankar starring Rajinikanth, the largest collaboration yet for a Tamil film. The film was titled Sivaji and released on June 15, 2007 after two years of filming and meticulous production. With massive international anticipation, it subsequently went on to become a major blockbuster, being ranked among other major Bollywood and Hollywood releases of the year. Sivaji became the first Tamil movie to be charted as one of the top-ten best films of United Kingdom and South Africa box-offices upon release. Rajinikanth received a salary of 26 crores, approximately US $5.3 million at the time, for his role the film, which made him become the second highest paid actor in all of Asia.
Following Sivaji, Rajinikanth worked with P. Vasu again for Kuselan, a remake of the Malayalam film Kadha Parayumbol, in which Rajinikanth played an extended cameo role as himself, a star in the Indian film industry, and as a best friend to the main character. According to Rajinikanth, the film somewhat narrates his early life. The film performed poorly at box offices; many distributors incurred major losses due to the film, which Rajinikanth voluntarily settled with his own budget after pressure from different sections of the film world.
During the course of the production for Sivaji, Ocher Studios, the animation company of Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth, in association with Adlabs announced their intention of producing a CGI animation film starring an animated version of Rajinikanth. In 2010, Rajinikanth appeared in Enthiran, a science fiction film directed by S. Shankar. Enthiran is reported to be the costliest Indian film ever made, with a budget of 162 crores (US $36 million). The film released on October 1, 2010, and is said to have grossed 250 crore worldwide. Rajinikanth will soon be lending his voice to the lead character in the animation film Sultan the Warrior, which is being directed by his daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth.
A. R. Murugadoss had previously shown interest in directing Rajinikanth in his next feature film after Ghajini. Rajinikanth has stated that he is interested in starring in Pyramid Saimira's next production, in order to compensate for Kuselan.

FILMOGRAPHY

1975
Apoorva Raagangal (Tamil)

Katha Sangama (Kannada)

1976
Anthuleni Katha (Telugu)

Unnidam Mayangukiren (Tamil)

Moondru Mudichu (Tamil)

Baalu Jenu (kannada)

Avargal (Tamil)

Kavikkuyil (Tamil)

Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram (Tamil)

Chilakamma Cheppindi Chandhi (Tamil)

Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (Tamil)

Ondu Premada Kathe (Kannada)

16 Vayathinile (Tamil)

Sahodarara Savaal (Kannada)

Aadu Puli Attam (Tamil)

Gaayathri (Tamil)

Kumkuma Rakshe (Kannada)

Aarupushpangal (Tamil)

Tholireyi Gadichindi (Telugu)

Aame Katha (Telugu)

Galate Samsara (Kannada)

1978
Shankar Salim Simon (Tamil)

Kiladi Kittu (Kannada)

Annadammula Savaal (Telugu)

Aayiram Jenmangal (Tamil)

Maathu Tappada Maga (Kannada)

Mangudi Minor (Tamil)

Bairavi (Tamil)

Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu (Tamil)

Sadhurangam (Tamil)

Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye (Tamil)

Vayasu Pilichindi (Telugu)

Mullum Malarum (Tamil)

Iraivan Kodutha Varam (Tamil)

Thappida Thala (Kannada)

Thai Meethu Sathiyam (Tamil)

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil (Tamil)

Justice Gopinath (Tamil)

Priya (Tamil)

1979
Kuppathu Raja (Tamil)

Iddaru Asadhyule (Telugu)

Thaayillamal Naan Illai (Tamil)

Ninaithale Inikkum (Tamil)

Andhamaina Anubhavam (Telugu)

Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum (Malayalam)

Dharma Yuddam (Tamil)

Naan Vazhavaippen ()Tamil

Tiger (Telugu)

Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (Tamil)

Annai Oru Alayam (Tamil)

Amma Evarikkaina Amma (Telugu)

1980
Billa (Tamil)

Ram Robert Rahim (Telugu)

Anbukku Naan Adimai (Tamil)

Kaali (Tamil)

Mayadari Krishnudu (Telugu)

Naan Potta Saval (Tamil)

Johnny (Tamil)

Kaali (Telugu)

Ellam Un Kairasi (Tamil)

Polladhavan (Tamil)

Murattu Kalai (Tamil)

1981
Thee (Tamil)

Kazhugu (Tamil)

Thillu Mullu (Tamil)

Garjanai (Tamil)

Netrikan (Tamil)

Ranuva Veeran (Tamil)

1982
Pokkiri Raja (Tamil)

Thanikattu Raja (Tamil)

Ranga (Tamil)

Agni Sakshi (Tamil)

Puthukavithai (Tamil)

Enkeyo Ketta Kural (Tamil)

Moondru Mugam (Tamil)

1983
Paayum Puli (Tamil )

Thudikkum Karangal (Tamil)

Andha Kanoon (Hindi)

Thai Veedu (Tamil)

Sivappu Sooriyan (Tamil)

Uruvangal Maralam (Tamil)

Jeet Hamaari (Hindi)

Adutha Varisu (Tamil)

Thanga Magan (Tamil)

1984
Meri Adaalat (Hindi)

Naan Mahaan Alla (Tamil)

Thambikku Entha Ooru (Tamil)

Kai Kodukkum Kai (Tamil)

Ethe Naasaval (Telugu)

Anbulla Rajinikanth (Tamil)

Gangvaa (Hindi)

Nallavanuku Nallavan (Tamil)
Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award

John Jani Janardhan (Hindi)

1985
Naan Sigappu Manithan (Tamil)

Mahaguru (Hindi)

Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal (Tamil)

Wafadaar (Hindi)

Sri Raghavendra (Tamil)

Bewafai (Hindi)

Geraftaar (Hindi)

Padikkadavan (Tamil)

1986
Mr. Bharath (Tamil)

Naan Adimai Illai (Tamil)

Jeevana Poratam (Telugu)

Viduthalai (Tamil)

Bhagwan Dada (Hindi)

Asli Naqli (Hindi)

Dosti Dhushman (Hindi)

Maaveeran (Tamil)

1987
Velaikaran (Tamil)

Insaff Kaun Karega (Hindi)

Oorkavalan (Tamil)

Manithan (Tamil)

Uttar Dakshan (Hindi)

Manathil Uruthi Vendum (Tamil)

1988
Tamacha (Hindi)

Guru Sishyan (Tamil)

Dharmathin Thalaivan (Tamil)

Bloodstone (English)

Kodi Parakuthu (Tamil)

1989
Rajathi Raja (Tamil)

Siva (Tamil)

Raja Chinna Roja (Tamil)

Mappillai (Tamil)

Gair Kanooni (Hindi)

Bhrashtachar (Hindi)

Chaalbaaz (Hindi)

1990
Panakkaran (Tamil)

Athisaya Piravi (Tamil)

1991
Dharma Dorai (Tamil)

Hum (Hindi)

Farishtay (Hindi)

Khoon Ka Karz (Hindi)

Phool Bane Angaray (Hindi)

Nattukku Oru Nallavan (Tamil)

Thalapathi (Tamil)

1992
Mannan (Tamil)

Tyagi (Hindi)

Annamalai (Tamil)

Pandiyan (Tamil )

1993

Insaniyat Ke Devta (Hindi)

Yejaman (Tamil)

Uzhaippali (Tamil)

Valli (Tamil)

1994
Veera (Tamil)

1995
Badsha (Tamil)

Peddarayudu (Telugu)

Aatank Hi Aatank (Hindi)

Muthu (Tamil)
Winner: Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor

Bhagya Debata (Bengali )

1997
Arunachalam (Tamil)

1998
Muthu Odoru Maharaja (Japanesse)

1999
Padayappa (Tamil)
Winner: Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor

2000
Bulandi (Hindi)

2002
Baba (Tamil)

2005
Chandramukhi (Tamil)
Winner: Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor

2006
Chandramukhi (Tami language )

2007
Sivaji: The Boss (Tamil)
Winner: Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Nominated: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award

2008
Kuselan (Tamil)

2010
Enthiran (Tamil)

2011
Hara (Tamil)


AWARDS & HONERS

YEAR ,FILM,TYPE & AWARD

1977
16 Vayathinile
Best Actor
Arima Sangam

1977
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri
Best Supporting Actor
Thirai Kathir

1978
Mullum Malarum
Best Actor
Tamil Nadu Government

1978
Mullum Malarum
Best Actor
Arima Sangam

1979
Aarilirundu Arubadhu Varai
Best Actor
Filmfans Association

1979
Aarilirundu Arubadhu Varai
Best Actor
Devar Award

1982
Moondru Mugam
Best Actor
Tamil Nadu Government

1982
Engeyo Ketta Kural
Best Actor
Tamil Nadu Film Fans Association

1984
Nallavanuku Nallavan
Best Actor
Filmfare Awards

1984
Nallavanuku Nallavan
Best Actor
Cinema Express

1984
Nallavanuku Nallavan
Best Actor
Filmfans Association

1984
-
KALAIMAMANI AWARD
Tamil Nadu Government

1985
Sri Raagavendirar
Best Actor
Filmfans Association

1985
Sri Raagavendirar
Best Actor
Cinema Express

1985
Sri Raagavendirar
Best Actor
Filmalaya

1987
Velaikkaran
Best Actor
Sunflash Award

1988
Blood Stone
Best Achiever Award
Cinema Express

1989
-
MGR AWARD
Tamil Nadu Government

1991
Thalapathy
Best Actor
Cinema Express

1991
Thalapathy
Best Actor
Filmfans Association

1992
Annamalai
Best Actor
Cinema Express

1992
Annamalai
Best Actor
Ambika Awards

1993
Valli
Best Story Writter
Cinema Express

1993
Valli
Best Story Writter
Filmfans Association

1993
Valli
Best Film Producer
TamilNadu Murpokku Sangam

1995
-
KALAICHELVAM AWARD
Nadigar Sangam

1995
Peaddarayadu
Best Actor
Screen Awards

1995
Baadsha
Best Actor
Cinema Express

1995
Baadsha
Best Actor
Filmfans Association

1995
Muthu
Best Actor
Cinema Express

1995
Muthu
Best Actor
Kalasagar Award (Bombay)

1995
Muthu
Best Actor
Filmfans Association

1995
-
OSHOBISMIT AWARD for his Spirituality
Rajinish Ashram Award

1999
Muthu
Best Actor
Tamil Nadu Government

1999
Padayappa
Best Actor
Tamil Nadu Government

2000
-
PADMABHUSHAN AWARD
Central Government of India

Rajinikanth received his first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor in 1984 for Nallavanuku Nallavan. He later received Filmfare Award nominations for his performances in Muthu (1995) and Sivaji (2007). Rajinikanth also received Tamil Nadu State Film Awards in the Best Actor category for his roles in Moondru Mugam (1982), Muthu (1995), Padayappa (1999), Chandramukhi (2005), and Sivaji (2007). He also received awards from Cinema Express and Filmfans Association for his on-screen performances and off-screen contributions in writing and producing.
Rajinikanth received the Kalaimamani award in 1985 and the M. G. R. Award in 1989, both from the Government of Tamil Nadu. In 1995, the South Indian Film Artistes' Association presented him with the Kalaichelvam Award. He was named and honoured with the Padma Bhushan award, India's third highest civilian honour, in 2000 from the Government of India. He was selected as the Indian Entertainer of the Year for 2007 by NDTV, competing against the likes of Shahrukh Khan. The Government of Maharashtra honoured him with the Raj Kapoor Award the same year. He received the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema at the 2010 ceremony of the Vijay Awards.

CHARITY WORK

In 2002, Rajinikanth undertook a daylong fast to protest the Government of Karnataka's decision to not release Kaveri River water into Tamil Nadu and announced that he would contribute 10,000,000 toward a plan to interlink the Indian rivers. He met with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and many experts to canvass support for the project. However, most other members of the Tamil film industry, including members of the South Indian Film Artistes' Association (SIFAA), organized their own solidarity protest. Film director Bharathi Raja stated that Rajinikanth was on the verge of dividing the film industry and called him "traitor who had a tacit understanding with the Karnataka government".
During the 2008 hunger strike organized by SIFAA during the Hogenakkal water dispute, he reprimanded Karnataka politicians. Further, he appealed to leaders not to inflame the water project issue for political gains and requested that the issue should be resolved soon. He urged the Karnataka politicians "to speak the truth." "People are equal to God. They cannot be fooled and will not remain silent if you continue to act in such manner," he stated. Leader of the Pro-Kannada group Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Vatal Nagaraj demanded an apology from Rajinikanth and threatened that he would not be allowed in the state of Karnataka and all his films would be boycotted for Rajinikanth's speech against Kannada politicians.

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