‘Even Money And Fame Can’t Fill The Void’: Rajinikanth Says He Feels ‘Orphaned’ After AVM Saravanan’s Death

The loss of a mentor can leave a silence that success cannot fill. On Sunday, that quiet grief was visible as Rajinikanth spoke about producer AVM Saravanan, whose death earlier this month has left a deep

personal void for the superstar, despite decades of fame and achievement.

Veteran Tamil producer Saravanan Surya Mani, popularly known as AVM Saravanan, passed away on December 4, 2025, just days after turning 86. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan were present at the unveiling of Saravanan’s portrait at AV Meiyappan Higher Secondary School in Virugambakkam, Chennai, where several members of the film fraternity gathered to pay tribute.

Addressing the audience, Rajinikanth became emotional as he reflected on his long association with Saravanan and AVM Studios. “I have done 11 films with him. Saravanan was someone who delivered many successes while sitting right there in his office. Beyond cinema, he was very close to me personally,” he said.

Superstar #Rajinikanth‘s Latest Emotinal Speech..❣️🤝pic.twitter.com/TRUWUnly5k

— Laxmi Kanth (@iammoviebuff007) January 4, 2026

The actor also shared a piece of advice from the late producer that continues to guide him. “As my age increased after Sivaji (2007), he told me that one should remain busy. He advised me to do at least one film every year. Even now, I follow that advice,” Rajinikanth recalled.

Speaking about the emotional impact of Saravanan’s passing, Rajinikanth added, “Time tends to take away people we like, respect and love quickly. Even if you have a lot of money, a good family, name or fame, when such people leave, you feel orphaned. Saravanan sir was a great man, may his soul rest in peace.”

Kamal Haasan also paid tribute to the producer, underlining Saravanan’s influence beyond filmmaking. “If I am called a Sakalakala Vallavan (master of many arts), then he (AVM Saravanan) too was a Sakalakala Vallavan. I feel great pride in being closely associated with the AVM family. I thank them for giving me that honour,” he said.

Chennai | Attended the unveiling ceremony of a portrait of the late renowned film producer M. Saravanan at AV Meiyappan Higher Secondary School, Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan says, “When I first went there, I was just a child. I ate the mangoes that had fallen on that… pic.twitter.com/qLAII9pviU

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2026

Recalling his formative years with the AVM institution, Kamal added, “This AVM Higher Secondary School wasn’t built back then. If it had been, I would have studied here. When I made mistakes, he never shouted at me, but when I did something good, he lifted me up and celebrated me, that was AVM Saravanan.”

Both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan share deep professional roots with AVM Studios. Saravanan, along with his brother M Balasubramanian, played a key role in shaping Rajinikanth’s career by casting him opposite Rati Agnihotri in Murattu Kaalai (1980), a film that proved instrumental in establishing him as a superstar. Kamal Haasan, meanwhile, began his cinematic journey with the banner as a child actor in Kalathur Kannamma (1960), which earned him the President’s Gold Medal, now recognised as the National Award for Best Child Actor.