Rajinikanth Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Caste, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Rajinikanth

• Is Rajinikanth a smoker?: No (He has quit)

• Rajinikanth indeed consumes alcohol.

• Rajnikanth, although his ancestors originated from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, was born in Maharashtra and is not of Tamilian descent.

• After losing his mother at a tender age, Rajinikanth was brought up by his father and elder brothers. Here is a childhood photo of him.

• During his childhood, he exhibited quite mischievous behavior.

• Prior to pursuing a career in acting, he worked various menial positions in Chennai and Bengaluru, including carpentry, manual labor, and serving as a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS). During his time as a bus conductor, he earned a monthly salary of ₹750.

• During his early years, Rajinikanth was supported by his friend Raj Bahadur, who generously provided him with financial assistance to pursue his passion for acting at a prestigious film institution in Chennai.

• Rajinikanth’s passion for acting led him to enroll in the Madras Film Institute. It was during one of his stage performances there that he crossed paths with director K Balachander. Impressed by Rajinikanth’s talent, Balachander offered him a role in a Tamil film. Despite initially struggling with the language, Rajinikanth dedicated himself to learning Tamil and soon became proficient in it. This marked the beginning of Rajinikanth’s successful collaboration with K Balachander.

• In the Tamil film ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ (1975), he had his first acting opportunity, sharing the screen with Kamal Haasan. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan delivered outstanding performances in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’.

• In the beginning of his acting journey, he gained recognition for his portrayal of antagonistic characters for the first two years. However, his breakthrough came when he landed the lead role in the Telugu film ‘Chilakamma Cheppindi’ (1977).

• Rajinikanth’s initial breakthrough came with the film ‘Billa’ (1980), which was a remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Don’ (1978). The movie ‘Billa’ by Rajinikanth is a reimagining of ‘Don’.

• Rajinikanth encountered his future wife, Latha, during an interview conducted by a group of college girls, which Latha happened to be leading. The strong allure Rajinikanth felt towards Latha prompted him to propose to her on that very day.

• Rajinikanth portrayed the character of the Hindu saint Raghavendra Swami in his 100th film, titled ‘Sri Raghavendra’ (1985).

• Bloodstone, an Indian-American action-adventure film, marked Rajinikanth’s debut and only English movie in 1988. He portrayed a role in the film.

• Rajinikanth played the lead role in the film ‘Raaja Chinna Roja’ (1989), which was the pioneer Tamil movie to incorporate animation.

• The only movie of his that received a U/A certificate upon release was ‘Thalapathi‘ (1991).

• Rajinikanth observed a day-long fast in 2002 to protest against the Karnataka Government’s refusal to release water from the river Kaveri into Tamil Nadu. Additionally, in 2008, he joined other Tamil film personalities in a day-long fast, urging the Sri Lankan government to bring an end to the civil war and grant Sri Lankan Tamils their rightful rights.

• After Jackie Chan, he became the second highest paid Asian actor in 2007 when he received ₹26 crore for his role in the film ‘Sivaji’.

• The science fiction film ‘Enthiran’ (English – Robot) was originally intended to be directed by Kamal Haasan.

• Forbes India recognized Rajinikanth as the Most Influential Indian of 2010.

• In the year 2011, he had a notable cameo in the Sci-Fi movie ‘Ra.One’, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

• During 2011, he extended his support to social activist Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, generously offering the use of his marriage hall, Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in Chennai.

• Rajinikanth has been going to the Himalayas after every film since 1995.

• After 9 pm, he refrains from meeting people.

• Rajinikanth is renowned for his exceptional punctuality, consistently arriving ahead of schedule for all his shooting commitments.

• Rajinikanth is renowned for his humble demeanor, simplicity, and grounded personality, leading a remarkably straightforward life.

• Rajinikanth is highly revered by his fans in South India, who regard him with a God-like stature.

• Meena is the exclusive actress who has collaborated with Rajinikanth in both their childhood as co-stars and later as his leading lady.

• ‘World Style Day’ or ‘International Style Day’ is celebrated by his fans on his birthday, which falls on 12 December.

• Rajinikanth was accompanied by his spiritual guru, Swami Satchidananda, who happens to be the founder of Integral Yoga.

• have shared the screen in over 27 movies, which is the highest number for any actress.

• When his films ‘Baba’ (2002) and ‘Kuselan’ (2008) failed at the box office, he covered the losses incurred by his distributors.

• Rajinikanth is the proud owner of Raghavendra Mandapam, a popular marriage hall in Chennai.

• His renowned cigarette tossing style originated from a moment in his school days when he attempted to join a gang. Unfortunately, as they were his seniors, they rejected his request. Determined to make an impression on them, he devised the idea of showcasing this skill. He diligently practiced the trick in the concealed confines of the school’s bushes.

• Rajinikanth holds the distinction of being the inaugural Indian actor to have appeared in black & white, coloured, animated, and 3D films. His versatility is showcased through his performances in four distinct filming styles.

• Rajinikanth, the renowned actor, received the esteemed Dadasaheb Phalke Award from the Government of India on 25 October 2021. The Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, presented him with the award. In a humble gesture, Rajinikanth dedicated his accolade to his mentor K Balachander, his brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaikwad, and his friend Raj Bahadur, who served as his bus driver. During his acceptance speech, he expressed deep gratitude to K Balachander for his guidance and teachings, attributing his success to his mentor. He also acknowledged the significant role played by his brother, Sathyanarayana Rao Gaikwad, in shaping his life and instilling important values and spirituality. Raj Bahadur, the bus conductor who recognized Rajinikanth’s acting potential, was also honored for his encouragement that led him into the world of cinema. Furthermore, Rajinikanth expressed immense gratitude towards his producers, directors, technicians, co-actors, distributors, media, and the press, considering them the pillars of his journey and existence.
• According to reports, in 2023, Rajinikanth once again secured the position of India’s highest-earning actor. The Times of India stated that he received a substantial payment of Rs. 210 crores for his prominent role in the movie ‘Jailer’, which included a sum of Rs. 100 crores for his contribution to the project.

There is information that the envelope given by Kalanithi Maran to superstar #rajinikanth consists of a solitary cheque worth ₹1⃣0⃣0⃣ crore from City Union Bank located in the Mandaveli branch of Chennai.

Here is a profit sharing check for #Jailer, exceeding the amount already paid. pic.twitter.com/I6TF6p4SvL

On August 31, 2023, Manobala Vijayabalan tweeted as @ManobalaV.