Rajinikanth - The People Favorite Box Office King

Superstar Rajinikanth has completed forty years in his acting career that is filled with huge successes and humungous achievements. At this moment of pride for every film enthusiast as well as the fans of the actor, we present you a slide feature showing his rise from a bus conductor to the most powerful Superstar of Indian cinema.

Bus conductor enters the silver screen

Sivaji Rao Gaekwad was a bus conductor until he was spotted by K.Balachander in Bangalore. The veteran director mightily impressed by his attractive mannerisms and inimitable style rechristened him as Rajinikanth and offered him a chance to act in his film 'Apoorva Ragangal' .

Rajini entered the camera frame in his first film opening the closed gates of a house and that was the poetic sense of the farsighted KB hinting this man's capability of entering into the hearts of millions.

A notable villain and supporting actor

In his initial years Rajini acted in character and villain roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films K.Balachander capitalized Rajini's suitability for negative roles and casted him in such roles in 'Moondru Mudichu' and 'Avargal'. He was also cast as the main villain in '16 Vayathinile' the debut film of veteran director Bharathi Raja which turned out to be a trendsetter. During the same period Rajini proved his mettle as a character artiste in films like 'Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri', 'Anthuleni Katha' (Telugu) 'Aval Appadithan' etc.

After many years Rajini gave a slice of his character acting with 'Pedarayudu' (Telugu). The movie buffs born after the dawn of the millennium got to witness his villanaic histrionics in 'Chandramukhi' and 'Enthiran'.

Supporting actor to Kamal Haasan

Rajinikanth's debut film itself had Kamal Haasan in lead role and he acted in character or negative roles in many films having the latter as the hero. The list includes'16 Vayathinile', 'Ninaithale Inikkum', 'Ilamai Oonjaladugiradhu' 'Aval Appadithan' and 'Alavudeenum Arpudha Vilakkum '.

In return of the favor, Kamal made cameo appearances in 'Moondru Mudichu', 'Thappu Thalangal' and 'Thillu Mullu; that had Rajini in lead role.

The rise of the hero

Rajini acted as second hero and one among two heroes in other language film. He was cast as the solo male lead for the first time in Tamil film 'Bhairavi' which was his 26th film as an actor. The film released in 1977 was a super hit and that marked the emergence of a new hero who is going to rule the box office for decades to come.

K.Balachander's Tamil-Kannada bilingual 'Thappu Thalangal' and 'Priya' based on ace writer Sujatha's novel are the films that gave a strong base to Rajini as a hero.

The actor of substance

Rajini has been very clear about his route to fame. In a function held in 2011 without a second thought, he stated that he prefers commercial entertainers over off beat subjects in an 'onstage' interview to his mentor K.Balachander.

However Rajini had proved that he is a phenomenal actor much before. 'Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri', 'Arulirundhu Arupadhuvarai', 'Mullum Malarum', 'Engeyo Ketta Kural' and 'Netrikkan' proved that Rajini is not just a man of glitzy antics but a powerhouse performer.

In the same interview to KB, Rajini said 'Mullum Malarum' was his favorite film among the ones he has acted in -perhaps a revelation of craving of the actor in him.

The rise of the Superstar

Rajinikanth rose to superstardom with a flurry of hits in the 1980s. The blockbuster 'Billa'(1980) ran for 25 weeks in theatres- a remarkable feat in those day.

In these days Rajini became the apt choice for the angry young man, large than life hero taking on the bad elements single handedly. 'Murattu Kalai', 'Ranga', 'Moondru Mugam', 'Paayum Puli', 'Padikkadhavan' and many other super hit films throughout the decade made Rajini an unparalleled superstar.

The star who can keep us in splits

At the onset of his superstardom, another facet of the actor Rajini was unveiled by his mentor K.Balachander who dared to cast him as the lead role in 1981 super hit comedy film 'Thillu Mullu'. The film remains testimony to the fact that Rajini is one of the few heroes who can make you laugh with ease.

Rajini's comic sense came to the fore in other films of the decade like 'Thambikku Endha Ooru', 'Guru Sishyan', 'Padikkadhavan' and many of his films in the years that followed.

The spiritual side

People learnt that Rajini is a staunch devotee of Sri Raghavendra when he acted in the lead role of the biopic on the sage. That was his 100th film and Rajini reportedly acted in this film without receiving a penny.

Rajini has always been open a

Superstar Rajinikanth has completed forty years in his acting career that is filled with huge successes and humungous achievements...