Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Rajinikanth began their career in 1978 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 48 years. With over 180 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 6.2, Rajinikanth remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Rajinikanth's influence on Tamil cinema is generational — their work continues to define the standard for the industry.
- Born
Biography
Rajinikanth is an Indian film actor, media personality, and cultural icon. He has won six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards—four Best Actor Awards and two Special Awards for Best Actor—and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award. In addition to acting, Rajinikanth has also worked as a producer and screenwriter. Apart from his film career, he is also a philanthropist, spiritualist, and serves as an influence in Dravidian politics. He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour.
Personal Info
Career Milestones
Film Debut
Breakthrough Role
Rise to Superstardom
Major Commercial Success and Cultural Icon Status
View film →Dadasaheb Phalke Award (Highest National Cinema Honor)
Iconic Roles
Baashha
A meek auto-rickshaw driver who harbors a secret identity as a feared crime boss. This dual role showcased Rajinikanth's versatility and earned him the Cinema Express Award for Best Actor; the film solidified his superstardom and granted him 'demigod' status in Tamil Nadu.
Thalapathi
An orphan raised in the slums who becomes a fearless fighter against injustice. Based on the Mahabharata's Karna character in a modern setting, this role demonstrated Rajinikanth's dramatic depth and won him critical acclaim and the Cinema Express Award for Best Actor.
Muthu
A loyal servant caught in a love triangle with his master. This masala film became culturally significant, particularly achieving major success in Japan where it was dubbed and became an international hit, cementing Rajinikanth's global appeal.
Billa
A dual-role action thriller that established Rajinikanth's action hero image and became his biggest commercial success at the time, pioneering his transition to leading man in Tamil cinema.
Enthiran
A scientist and his humanoid robot creation in India's most expensive production of its time. This sci-fi spectacle became one of the highest-grossing Indian films and showcased Rajinikanth in a cutting-edge technological role.
Defining Moments
Rajinikanth portrays Surya, a Karna-like figure in Mani Ratnam's modern gangster saga. His performance shows remarkable depth, vulnerability, and restrained intensity—eschewing his typical larger-than-life style for a nuanced, introspective portrayal that redefined expectations of his range.
Widely regarded as one of Rajinikanth's finest performances. Demonstrated his ability to work within an auteur's vision and deliver understated brilliance. The film is frequently cited as proof of his acting range beyond mass hero conventions. Mani Ratnam's realistic vision of Rajinikanth made this critically significant.
View film →College admission scene: Manickam reveals his true identity as Baashha to the principal. He calmly states 'Enakku innoru per irukku' (I have another name), a subtle yet terrifying transformation from meek auto-rickshaw driver to feared underworld don. This restrained power play defines the entire film's duality.
One of Tamil cinema's most celebrated transformation scenes. Pioneered the 'dormant volcano' archetype where a meek character's hidden ferocity is revealed, directly influencing subsequent Rajinikanth films and Tamil action cinema. The dialogue and controlled menace became iconic reference points in fan discourse.
View film →'Thilana Thilana' dance sequence: A vibrant, rhythmic performance showcasing Rajinikanth's charm and mass appeal as Muthu, a loyal servant. The song became an international phenomenon and introduced global audiences to Rajinikanth's magnetic screen presence.
This moment transcended Tamil cinema and gained Rajinikanth international recognition, particularly in Japan. The sequence exemplifies his ability to blend humor, dance, and charisma. It's frequently cited as the moment that established Rajinikanth as a cultural phenomenon beyond Indian cinema.
View film →Dual role performance as Arunachalam (and his father): Rajinikanth embodies the titular character with spiritual wisdom, delivering the iconic dialogue 'Aandavan solran, Arunachalam seiran' (God tells, Arunachalam does). The dual role showcases his versatility in blending mass energy, comedy, and family sentiments.
Exemplifies Rajinikanth's mastery of the complete entertainer formula. The film's box office success and state awards recognition demonstrate his consistent ability to deliver commercially and critically acclaimed performances. The spiritual undertone of his character added thematic depth.
View film →Filmography
See all 180 credits →
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
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Did You Know?
Rajinikanth's real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad.
He worked as a bus conductor in Bangalore before joining the Madras Film Institute.
He made his acting debut in 1975 with the Tamil film 'Apoorva Raagangal', directed by K. Balachander.
He was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016 by the Government of India.
He is often referred to as 'Thalaivar' (meaning leader or boss) by his fans and the media.
Signature Dialogues
Naan oru dhadavai sonna, nooru dhadavai sonna madhiri
Manikkam / Manik Baashha·Baashha
Idhan Surya. En thozhan, En Kooda porandhavan, En Thalapathi
Surya·Thalapathi
Aandavan solran, Arunachalam seiran
Arunachalam·Arunachalam
Nobody knows when and how I will come, but I will definitely come at the right time
Muthu·Muthu
Photos
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Family
Child
Soundarya Rajinikanth
Child
Aishwarya R. Dhanush
News & Stories
Rajinikanth finishes filming his parts in Vettaiyan
14/5/2024
Amitabh Bachchan starts filming for Rajinikanth movie "Vettaiyan".
6/5/2024
Rajinikanth Vettaiyan gets a release time announced
8/4/2024
Rajinikanth New Movie 'Thalaivar 171' First Look Revealed
29/3/2024
The Lal Salaam Audio Launch is Set for Jan 26.
23/1/2024
Legacy & Influence
Rajinikanth's contribution to Indian cinema transcends his filmography, embodying a cultural phenomenon unique in its scale. His career trajectory is a legendary narrative of humble origins, beginning as a bus conductor before joining the Madras Film Institute. His early screen presence in supporting roles, notably in K. Balachander's films like 'Apoorva Raagangal' (1975), showcased a raw, distinctive style. By the late 1970s and 1980s, he evolved into a leading man, mastering a unique on-screen persona built on stylized dialogue delivery, cigarette flips, and a charismatic swagger that appealed directly to the masses. This persona was perfected in the 1990s with blockbusters like 'Baashha' (1995), where he played a common man with a violent, righteous past, cementing his image as the ultimate 'superstar.' His influence lies in redefining the archetype of the Indian film hero, blending exaggerated style with themes of social justice and morality, often playing the humble savior. Beyond Tamil cinema, his films enjoy a pan-Indian and significant international following, particularly in Japan. His later career choices, including ambitious projects like 'Enthiran' (Robot, 2010) and 'Kabali' (2016), demonstrate a continual evolution and a powerful box office draw that can dictate industry trends. Rajinikanth's true legacy is his transformation into a cultural icon where the line between the actor and the mythologized 'Thalaivar' (leader) blurs, influencing fashion, language, and popular culture for generations.