Rajinikanth
Born 12 December 1950 · Karnataka
Acted in over 170 films across six Indian languages over a career spanning five decades.
🔔 Add birthday reminderShivaji Rao Gaikwad, known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 170 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla, and Malayalam. He is widely regarded to be one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India's third and second highest civilian honours respectively, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019, the highest Indian award in the field of cinema, and the IFFI Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to world cinema.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Rajinikanth personally compensated film distributors for the losses they faced from his 2002 movie Baba, a rare act among Indian film stars.
1. In 1975, Shivaji Rao Gaikwad debuted in K. Balachander's Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal, initially playing antagonist roles before shifting to lead characters by 1977 with Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri, earning his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actor.
2. 🌟 The 1980 film Billa, a Tamil remake of Don (1978), marked Rajinikanth’s breakthrough as an action hero, establishing his commercial stardom and dual role portrayal that captivated audiences across South Indian cinema.
3. By 1983, Rajinikanth expanded into Hindi cinema with Andhaa Kaanoon, a top-grossing film of the year, showcasing his pan-Indian appeal beyond Tamil Nadu.
4. In 1995, Baashha became Rajinikanth’s highest-grossing film to date and retained its record in Tamil cinema for years, solidifying his status as a mass action star with a unique style.
5. 🎬 After a brief hiatus, his 2005 comeback with Chandramukhi became the highest-grossing Tamil film of its time, followed by Sivaji (2007), which entered the 100 Crore Club, a rare achievement for Tamil films then.
6. Rajinikanth personally repaid distributors for losses incurred by his 2002 film Baba, an uncommon gesture reflecting his commitment to the Tamil film industry’s ecosystem.
7. 🧘♂️ Beyond cinema, Rajinikanth found “soul satisfaction” in spiritual films like Baba and Sree Raghavendra, openly discussing Kriya yoga and meditation practices during public speeches, blending his cinematic and spiritual journeys.
8. ❓ How did Rajinikanth’s unique blend of humility, spirituality, and mass appeal redefine the star persona in Indian cinema?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Padma Vibhushan
- 🏅Padma Bhushan
🔍 One thing most people don't know
After the failure of his film Baba in 2002, Rajinikanth reimbursed the distributors from his own pocket, an uncommon move in Indian cinema to maintain trust in the industry.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
"Om Guruvey Saranam."
— Rajinikanth
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Exclusive interview with Super Star Rajinikanth
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Rajinikanth’s influence transformed Tamil cinema's commercial landscape with record-breaking films like Baashha and Sivaji that raised box office benchmarks. His commitment to distributors’ welfare after Baba demonstrated a new model of accountability in the film industry. Moreover, his public embrace of spirituality introduced a rare fusion of celebrity culture and personal philosophy in Indian cinema.
💬 Social Buzz
🐦
What are people saying about Rajinikanth?
Found a post from a historian, journalist or notable voice? Share it here and help tell their story. 🇮🇳