(Image source from: Four decades of a phenomenon called Rajinikanth})
It's 40 years now since the phenomenon called Rajinikanth happened to movies. That's right!
The Thalaivaa completes his 40 years in film industry today. To celebrate this milestone and congratulate him, the entire team of his upcoming movie “Lingaa” threw a lavish celebration.
Rajinikanth, the Tamil superstar, debuted in 1975 with ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ in a supporting role. Soon after, he forayed into Kannada films with Puttanna Kanagal's ‘Katha Sangama.’
In the 80's, he delivered some smash hits like ‘Padikkathavan’, ‘Thee’, ‘Velaikaran’, ‘Dharmathin Thalaivan’, ‘Mr. Bharath’, and ‘Maaveeran’. He played Hindu Saint Raghavendra Swami in his 100th movie.
By the end of the 80s, Rajinikanth was at the peak of his popularity down south when he suddenly decided to quit acting. He was however, coaxed back into films. He made his grand comeback with ‘Billa’, a remake of Bollywood film, ‘Don’. The film was an epic success.
In 1983, Rajinikanth debuted in Bollywood with ‘Andha Kanoon’ along with Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. The film became the biggest grosser of that time. Later, Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan went on to work together in films like ‘Geraftaar’ and ‘Hum’.
Rajnikanth delivered hs most number of hits during the 90’s – ‘Thalapathy’, ‘Mannan’, ‘Annamalai’, ‘Uzhaippali’, ‘Veera’, ‘Baasha’, ‘Muthu’, ‘Arunachalam’ and ‘Padayappa’.
The big blockbuster ‘Sivaji: The Boss’, came in on June 15, 2007 . In 2010, Rajinikanth teamed up with director Shankar once again for techno thriller ‘Enthiran’ starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa. It was the most expensive Indian film to be ever made as well as the highest-grossing film in the country that year.
His last release ‘Kochadaiiyaan’, directed by daughter Soundarya, was the first of it’s kind in the country. However, the film garnered only average success.
Winner of six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards – four Best Actor Awards and two Special Awards for Best Actor – and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award, the Padma Bhushan recipient is inarguably the most loved actor for his own rights.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
