Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1950-12-12
- Born Place: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Height:
5′ 7¾″ (1.72 m)
Also Known As:
Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajini, Super Star, 拉吉尼卡特, ラジニカント, Раджникант, 라지 니칸 스, රජිනිකාන්ත්, ரஜினிகாந்த், راجینیکن, Rajni kanth, Rajnikanth, Rajini kanth, Rajni Kanth
Rajinikanth
Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on December 12, 1950, in a Marathi family in Bangalore, Rajinikanth is a cultural icon and one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. His early life was marked by hardship, and he worked various jobs, including as a coolie and a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service. It was during this time that he honed his acting skills in local stage plays. In 1973, he joined the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in acting, where he was discovered by director K. Balachander, who advised him to learn Tamil.Rajinikanth made his cinematic debut in Balachander's 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal, initially playing antagonistic and supporting roles. His unique style, charismatic screen presence, and signature mannerisms quickly earned him a dedicated fan base. His transition to lead roles began with films like Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977) and Bairavi (1978), and his superstardom was cemented with blockbusters like Billa (1980). Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has starred in over 170 films across various languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. His films often feature a blend of lively energy, stylized action, and a philosophical essence, and he is affectionately known as "Thalaivar" (leader) by his fans.Beyond his acting career, Rajinikanth has also ventured into film production and screenwriting. For his immense contributions to Indian cinema, he has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019, the highest Indian award in the field of cinema. Rajinikanth married Latha Rangachari in 1981, and they have two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya. Despite his larger-than-life on-screen persona, he is widely admired for his humility and spiritual nature.
