Rajinikanth is an Indian actor, primarily working in Tamil cinema, who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Indian popular culture. Known professionally by his stage name, he was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has become a cultural icon in South India and among the Tamil diaspora, recognised for his distinctive screen mannerisms, dialogue delivery, and on-screen style.
| Birth name | Shivaji Rao Gaekwad |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Rajinikanth |
| Born | 12 December 1950, Bangalore, Mysore State (present-day Karnataka) |
| Native language | Marathi |
| Profession | Actor, producer, screenwriter |
| Primary industry | Tamil cinema |
| Spouse | Latha Rangachari (m. 1981) |
| Children | Aishwarya Rajinikanth, Soundarya Rajinikanth |
| Film debut | Apoorva Raagangal (1975), directed by K. Balachander |
| Honours | Padma Bhushan (2000), Padma Vibhushan (2016), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2019) |
Rajinikanth was born into a Marathi-speaking family in Bangalore, the youngest of four children of Ramoji Rao Gaekwad, a police constable, and Jijabai. He was named after the Maratha ruler Shivaji. After his mother's death when he was young, he was raised in modest circumstances and studied at the Acharya Pathasala Public School and later the Vivekananda Balaka Sangha. Before entering films, he worked at various jobs, most notably as a bus conductor with the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS), a period often cited in accounts of his early life.
His interest in performance led him to enrol at the Madras Film Institute (now the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai) in the early 1970s, where he was noticed by the director K. Balachander. Balachander suggested the screen name "Rajinikanth" and is widely considered his mentor in cinema.
Rajinikanth made his film debut in Balachander's Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal (1975) in a supporting role alongside Kamal Haasan and Srividya. In his initial films, he was often cast as an antagonist or in negative shades, including in Moondru Mudichu (1976) and Avargal (1977). He also worked in Telugu and Kannada cinema during this period.
His transition to lead hero roles came with films such as Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977) and S. P. Muthuraman's Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri and Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979). Films like Billa (1980), a remake of the Hindi film Don, established his action-hero image. Through the 1980s he worked extensively with directors such as S. P. Muthuraman, P. Bharathiraja, Mani Ratnam (Thalapathi, 1991), and K. Balachander, delivering hits including Murattu Kaalai, Moondru Mugam, Naan Mahaan Alla, and Padikkadhavan. He also appeared in Hindi films during this decade, including Andhaa Kaanoon (1983) and Hum (1991).
Films such as Annaamalai (1992), Baashha (1995), Muthu (1995), and Padayappa (1999) cemented his image as "Superstar Rajinikanth". Muthu, directed by K. S. Ravikumar, was dubbed into Japanese as Muthu: Odoru Maharaja and became unexpectedly popular in Japan, expanding his international following.
Rajinikanth's later films were marked by large budgets, technological ambition, and pan-Indian releases. Notable works include Chandramukhi (2005), Sivaji: The Boss (2007) directed by S. Shankar, and Enthiran (2010) and its sequel 2.0 (2018), both directed by Shankar and featuring extensive visual effects. Other films of this period include Kabali (2016), Kaala (2018), Petta (2019), Darbar (2020), Annaatthe (2021), and Jailer (2023).
Rajinikanth has periodically commented on Tamil Nadu politics since the 1990s, and his statements have at times influenced electoral discourse. In December 2017, he announced that he would form a political party and contest elections in Tamil Nadu. In December 2020, he announced his withdrawal from active political plans, citing health concerns following a hospitalisation. He has not aligned formally with a political party.
Rajinikanth's enduring popularity is associated with his stylised mannerisms, including a characteristic flick of cigarettes and sunglasses, punch dialogues, and a screen persona that often portrays a working-class hero standing up to powerful adversaries. His fan associations (rasigar mandrams) form an organised social network across Tamil Nadu, undertaking welfare activities. His box-office reach extends beyond Tamil-speaking regions to other parts of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. He is also noted for a personal style of simplicity off-screen, which contrasts with his on-screen image and is frequently cited in popular discussions of his persona.
He married Latha Rangachari, an English literature student, in 1981; she runs The Ashram, a school in Chennai. The couple have two daughters: Aishwarya Rajinikanth, a film director, and Soundarya Rajinikanth, a director and producer. Aishwarya was earlier married to actor Dhanush.