Shivaji Rao Gaekwad (born 12 December 1950), known by his mononymous stage name Rajinikanth, is an Indian film actor and politician who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He began acting in plays while working in the Bangalore Transport Service as a bus conductor. In 1973, he joined the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in acting. Following his debut in K. Balachander’s Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal (1975), his acting career commenced with a brief phase of portraying antagonistic characters in Tamil films.
After earning ₹26 crore (equivalent to ₹56 crore or US$7.8 million in 2017) for his role in Sivaji (2007), he was the highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan at the time. While working in other regional film industries of India, Rajinikanth has also appeared in the cinemas of other nations, including the American film Bloodstone (1988). As of 2018, Rajinikanth 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, he 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.
The Government of India has honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016 for his contributions to the arts. At the 45th International Film Festival of India (2014), he was conferred with the “Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year”.
Early Life and Career
Rajinikanth was born on 12 December 1950, in a Maratha family in Bangalore, Mysore State (present day Karnataka). His mother was a housewife,[a] and his father Ramoji Rao Gaekwad, a police constable, He was named Shivaji Rao Gaekwad after Chhatrapati Shivaji, a Maratha warrior King, and was brought up speaking Marathi at home and Kannada outside. Rajinikanth’s ancestors hailed from Mavadi Kadepathar, Maharashtra and Nachikuppam, Tamil Nadu. He is the youngest of four siblings in a family consisting of two elder brothers (Satyanarayana Rao and Nageshwara Rao) and a sister (Aswath Balubhai). After his father’s retirement from work in 1956, the family moved to the suburb of Hanumantha nagar in Bangalore and built a house there. When he was nine years old, he lost his mother.
At the age of six, Rajinikanth was enrolled at the “Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School” where he had his primary education. As a child, he was studious and “mischievous” with a great interest in cricket, football and basketball. It was during this time that his brother enrolled him at the Ramakrishna Math, a Hindu monastery (math) set up by Ramakrishna Mission. In the math, he was taught Vedas, tradition and history, which eventually instilled a sense of spirituality in him. In addition to spiritual lessons, he also began acting in plays at the math. His aspiration towards theatre grew at the math and was once given an opportunity to enact the role of Ekalavya’s friend from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. His performance in the play received praise from the audience and Kannada poet D. R. Bendre in particular. After sixth grade, Rajinikanth was enrolled at the Acharya Pathasala Public School and studied there till completion of his pre-university course. During his schooling at the Acharya Pathasala, he spent a lot of time acting in plays. In one such occasion, he performed the villainous role of Duryodhana in the play Kurukshetra (Anand iya Vaalka).
Upon completion of his school education, Rajinikanth continued to perform various jobs in the cities of Bangalore and Madras, including that of a coolie and carpenter, and finally ended up being recruited in the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS) as a bus conductor.He began to take part in stage plays after Kannada playwright Topi Muniappa offered him a chance to act in one of his mythological plays. During the time, he came across an advertisement issued by the newly formed Madras Film Institute which offered acting courses. Though his family was not fully supportive of his decision to join the institute, his friend and co-worker Raj Bahadur motivated him to join the institute and financially supported him during this phase. During his stay at the institute, he was performing in a stage play and got noticed by Tamil film director K. Balachander. The director advised him to learn to speak Tamil, a recommendation that Rajinikanth quickly followed.
Family
Rajinikanth married Latha Rangachari, a student of Ethiraj College for Women who interviewed him for her college magazine. The marriage took place on 26 February 1981, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The couple has two daughters named Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Soundarya Rajinikanth. Latha runs a school named “The Ashram”.
Aishwarya married actor Dhanush on 18 November 2004 and they have two sons, Yathra and Linga. His younger daughter, Soundarya, works in the Tamil film industry as a director, producer and graphic designer. She married industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar on 3 September 2010 and have a son Ved Krishna.
Rajinikanth’s Biography
AboutUnni Mukundan | |
---|---|
Name | Rajinikanth |
Nick Name/Real Name | Shivaji Rao Gaekwad |
Profession | Screen-Writer Actor ProducerP hilanthropist Politician |
Nationality | Indian |
First Film | Apoorva Raagangal (1975) |
Physical Stats | |
Height (Aprox.) | 173 cm |
Weight (Aprox.) | 75 Kg |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Hair Color | White (Semi Blad) |
Personal Life | |
Date of Birth | 12 December 1950 |
Zodiac Sing | Sagittarious |
Age (as of 2018) | 68(as in 2018) |
Birth Place | Bangalure, Mysore |
Home Town/State | Bangaluru, Karnataka |
School | Gvt. Model School, Govipuram, Bangaluru |
College | M G R Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu |
Educational Qualification | Diploma in Acting |
Father Name | Ramoji Rao Gaekwad |
Mother Name | Jijabhai |
Brother(s) | Satyanarayana Rao |
Sister(s) | Aswath Balubhai |
Religion | Hinduism |
Hobbies | Travelling, Reading and Gardening |
Marital Status | Married |
Affairs | N/A |
Husband/Spouse | Latha M |
Children | 2 |
Rajinikanth’s Movie List
Rajinikanth’s Awards and Nominations
Year | Award | Honoring body |
---|---|---|
1984 | Kalaimamani | Government of Tamil Nadu |
1989 | MGR Award | Government of Tamil Nadu |
2000 | Padma Bhushan | Government of India |
2007 | Indian Entertainer of the Year | NDTV |
2007 | Raj Kapoor Award | Government of Maharashtra |
2007 | Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema | Vijay Awards |
2011 | Entertainer of the Decade | NDTV |
2011 | MGR-Sivaji Award | Government of Tamil Nadu |
2011 | Most Stylish actor | NDTV |
2013 | The 25 Greatest Global Living Legends | NDTV |
2014 | Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year | International Film Festival of India |
2016 | Padma Vibhushan | Government of India |
2016 | NTR National Award | Nandi Awards |
Cinema Express Awards
Year | Film(s) | Category | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Nallavanuku Nallavan | Best Actor | Won |
1985 | Sri Raghavendra | Best Actor | Won |
1988 | Bloodstone | Best Achiever | Won |
1991 | Thalapathy | Best Actor | Won |
1992 | Annamalai | Best Actor | Won |
1993 | Valli | Best Story Writer | Won |
1995 | Baashha, Muthu | Best Actor | Won |
Filmfans Association Awards
Year | Film(s) | Category | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai | Best Actor | Won |
1982 | Enkeyo Ketta Kural | Best Actor | Won |
1984 | Nallavanuku Nallavan | Best Actor | Won |
1985 | Sri Raghavendra | Best Actor | Won |
1991 | Thalapathy | Best Actor | Won |
1992 | Annamalai | Best Actor | Won |
1993 | Valli | Best Story Writer | Won |
1995 | Baashha, Muthu | Best Actor | Won |
Filmfare Awards South
Year | Film(s) | Category | Outcome | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Nallavanukku Nallavan | Best Actor | ||
2007 | Sivaji | Best Actor | Nominated | |
2010 | Enthiran | Best Actor | Nominated | |
2016 | Kabali | Best Actor | Nominated |
South Screen Awards
Year | Film | Category | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Peddarayudu | Best Actor | Won |
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Year | Film | Category | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Mullum Malarum | Special Award | Won |
1982 | Moondru Mugam | Special Award | Won |
1989 | Various films | Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award- MGR Award | Won |
1995 | Muthu | Best Actor | Won |
1999 | Padayappa | Best Actor | Won |
2005 | Chandramukhi | Best Actor | Won |
2007 | Sivaji | Best Actor | Won |
Vijay Awards
Year | Film | Category | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Sivaji | Favourite Hero | Won |
2009 | Lifetime Achievement | Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema | Won |
2010 | Enthiran | Best Villain | Won |
Favourite Hero | Won | ||
2014 | Lingaa | Won |