What is the story about?
12 December may appear to be an ordinary day for those who aren't film enthusiasts, but for devotees of Tamil cinema, it is a day of joy, as it commemorates
the birth of their beloved star: Rajinikanth. Today, his film Padayappa, a beloved classic that premiered in 1999, has made its return to theaters. Just a few months ago, he also featured in Coolie, one of the top-grossing films of the year, solidifying his status as one of the prominent figures in Indian cinema, even at the age of 75. Long before he became a sensation, Rajinikanth was recognized as Shivaji Rao Gaikwad. Let’s explore the beginnings of his journey to fame.
The Rise of Rajinikanth: The Transformation of Shivaji Rao Gaikwad into a Superstar
Shivaji Rao Gaikwad was born to police constable Ranoji Rao Gaekwad and his spouse Ramabai in Bengaluru, hailing from a family with Marathi heritage. They had settled in the city many years prior. Shivaji was named after the revered Maratha warrior, celebrated throughout Maharashtra. Born on Tuesday, December 12, 1950, the family had no inkling that their son would one day achieve legendary status. After finishing his education, Shivaji developed a passion for acting and participated in theatrical performances. With little interest in academics, he took on various odd jobs, including working as a mechanic and a coolie.
Noticing his struggles, his brother Satyanarayana intervened and suggested he pursue a career as a bus conductor. He subsequently joined the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS), now known as the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
Reflecting on the initial phase of his career, Shivaji once remarked, “Before I became a bus conductor, I worked as an office boy, a coolie, and a carpenter. I’m just an average person.” During this period, Shivaji participated in plays and idolized Sivaji Ganesan, Rajkumar, and MGR, mimicking their performances. After acting in over 25 plays, his peers encouraged him to explore opportunities in films. At the urging of his friends, he enrolled at the Madras Film Institute. He left home without permission from BTS to keep his government job as a safety net.
It was here that his fate took a turn. Shivaji had the opportunity to meet director K Balachander, who was visiting as a guest lecturer at the institute. Captivated by his striking features and complexion, he decided to cast him in Apoorva Raagangal, provided that Shivaji learn Tamil. With assistance from his friend Badhar and his brother, he mastered the language in just 20 days.
However, before filming commenced, K Balachander wanted to implement a significant change: he needed to rename him, as Sivaji Ganesan already dominated the industry. K Balachander then selected a new screen name from his own film Major Chandrakanth: Rajinikanth, which translates to the color of night. On a full-moon night during the Holi festival, Balachander officially bestowed this name upon him. Thus began the journey of Rajinikanth - who ascended from coolie to conductor to a superstar of Indian cinema.
With more than fifty years in the film industry, he has acted in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla, and Malayalam films. The Government of India recognized him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, which are the third and second highest civilian awards in India, respectively, along with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019. Rajinikanth continues to seek out new scripts, reinventing himself while retaining the charm, charisma, and style that have made him a relevant figure even after starring in 172 films. He is set to appear in Jailer 2 and an unnamed project referred to as Thalaivar 173, produced by his friend and fellow actor Kamal Haasan.
