Rajini and Kamal have enjoyed one of the longest-running rivalries in the history of cinema but at the same time they have remained very close friends for close to half a century. Apart from their class and mass styles in film acting they also have different political ideologies with Kamal's Makkal Neethi Maiam promoting centrism while Rajini has taken the spiritual path.

Rajini on Wednesday for the first time has slammed the central ruling government for the lag in intelligence in not able to prevent the riots in the protests against the Citizens Amendment Act in New Delhi that claimed the lives of twenty-five persons. He also made it clear that he will not tolerate the politics of religious hatred and will be the first person to voice out if the CAA affects Indian Muslims in any manner. Political analysts see Rajini's statements as a clear signal that the much loved mass hero is not a BJP puppet as he is projected by other political parties in Tamil Nadu.

Kamal Haasan has welcomed Rajini's statement and has written in Tamil "Bravo my friend Rajinikanth, this is the way to go and it's not an individual route but one that's embraced by an entire race. Welcome! Best Wishes!"

சபாஷ் நண்பர் @rajinikanth அவர்களே, அப்படி வாங்க.
இந்த வழி நல்ல வழி.
தனி வழி அல்ல, ஒரு இனமே நடக்கும் ராஜ பாட்டை.
வருக, வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 26, 2020