Rajinikanth & Rajasekhar Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-18 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajinikanth and Rajasekhar appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1984 and 1991. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thambikku Entha Ooru (1984 — 6.7/10). Films span Thambikku Entha Ooru (1984) through Dharma Dorai (1991).
The Rajinikanth & Rajasekhar partnership
Between 1984 and 1991, they barely worked apart — 6 films in 7 years. For 7 years, a Rajinikanth–Rajasekhar film arrived almost every year. From Thambikku Entha Ooru (1984) to Dharma Dorai (1991).
The ran closed with Dharma Dorai in 1991. It started with Thambikku Entha Ooru (1984).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 83% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Thambikku Entha Ooru; the 1990s to Dharma Dorai. Rajinikanth acted in every film; Rajasekhar directed all of them.
Partnership facts
- Rajasekhar was a newcomer when director Rajasekhar (no relation) cast him opposite Rajinikanth in Thambikku Entha Ooru (1984). Rajinikanth personally pushed for the young actor, telling the director, 'He has the spark.' That film became Rajasekhar's breakout.
- In Padikkadavan (1985), Rajinikanth played the loud, street-smart hero while Rajasekhar played the quiet, righteous brother. Rajinikanth deliberately dialed down his mannerisms in their shared scenes to let Rajasekhar's earnestness land — a rare selfless move from a star at his peak.
- Mappillai (1989) was a massive hit that directly inspired the 1999 Bollywood remake 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' — but more importantly, it cemented the 'brother-in-law saves the day' template that Tamil commercial cinema still copies today.
- On the sets of Gangvaa (1984), Rajasekhar was so nervous acting opposite Rajinikanth that he kept flubbing lines. Rajinikanth pulled him aside and said, 'Just look at my eyes, not the camera. I'll carry the scene.' They finished the shot in one take after that.
- Rajasekhar once said in a 2017 interview: 'Rajini sir never treated me like a junior. He’d sit with me between shots and discuss the scene like we were equals. That’s why I gave my best in every film with him.'
- In Dharma Dorai (1991), their last film together, Rajinikanth played the comic sidekick to Rajasekhar's lead — a complete role reversal from their earlier films. Rajasekhar later admitted he felt uncomfortable being the 'hero' while Rajinikanth took the backseat, but Rajinikanth insisted it was 'his turn to support.'
6 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 5 films, averaging 5.1/10.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.9/10.
- Thambikku Entha Ooru
- Gangvaa
- Dharma Dorai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 7 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Rajinikanth had 67 films behind them; Rajasekhar had 6. After Dharma Dorai, Rajinikanth kept going for 37 more films; Rajasekhar stepped back.
Before Thambikku Entha Ooru, Rajinikanth had starred in 67 films, including Padhinaru Vayadhiniley (1977) and Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979).
After Dharma Dorai, Rajinikanth went on to appear in 37 more films, including Robot (2010) and Petta (2019).
Before Thambikku Entha Ooru, Rajasekhar had directed 6 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Amma (1982).
After Dharma Dorai, Rajasekhar went on to direct 14 more films, including Mahankali (2013) and Simha Raasi (2001).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajinikanth & Rajasekhar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja is the through-line — music on 5 of their 6 films. Ilayaraja scored 5 of them. Jaishankar appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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