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Rajinikanth (born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on December 12, 1950) is an Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter who works primarily in Tamil cinema. Born in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) to a Marathi Hindu family, he worked as a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service before joining the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in acting. He made his cinematic debut with a brief but impactful antagonistic role in K. Balachander's Tamil drama *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975). Often referred to universally as "Superstar" or simply "Thalaivar" (Leader), Rajinikanth has established himself as one of the most successful, influential, and highest-paid actors in the history of Indian cinema, known for his unique acting style, distinct line delivery, and charismatic screen presence.
After beginning his career primarily portraying villains and anti-heroes, he gradually transitioned to lead roles, achieving massive stardom in the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman in films like *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanuku Nallavan* (1984) firmly cemented his status as a leading action hero. The 1990s witnessed him delivering monumental, industry-defining blockbusters that achieved unprecedented box office success, most notably Suresh Krissna's *Annamalai* (1992) and *Baasha* (1995), K. S. Ravikumar's *Muthu* (1995)βwhich gained a massive cult following in Japanβand *Padayappa* (1999). His unique ability to blend high-octane action, mass appeal, and spiritual philosophy in his films made him an unparalleled phenomenon across the country.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Rajinikanth continued his unparalleled box-office reign, consistently pushing the boundaries of Indian commercial cinema. He delivered gargantuan blockbusters including P. Vasu's horror-comedy *Chandramukhi* (2005) and reunited with director Shankar for the spectacular successes *Sivaji: The Boss* (2007) and the science-fiction epics *Enthiran* (2010) and its sequel *2.0* (2018). His performances in Pa. Ranjith's politically charged dramas *Kabali* (2016) and *Kaala* (2018), and Karthik Subbaraj's stylish *Petta* (2019), were highly praised for combining his quintessential swagger with substantive character depth. Honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke AwardβIndia's highest award in the field of cinemaβin 2021, he is a cultural icon whose fandom transcends generations.
In his seventies, Rajinikanth continues to headline colossal projects and rewrite box-office records. In 2023, he starred in Nelson Dilipkumar's blockbuster actioner *Jailer*, which emerged as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time. His 2024 releases include a prominent extended cameo as Moideen Bhai in his daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanth's *Lal Salaam* and the lead role in T. J. Gnanavel's action-drama *Vettaiyan*. His highly anticipated upcoming slate includes Lokesh Kanagaraj's massive action thriller *Coolie*, slated for a worldwide release in August 2025. Furthermore, he is set to reunite with Nelson Dilipkumar for the massive sequel *Jailer 2*, which is expected to arrive in cinemas in late 2026.
