Superstar Rajinikanth is known worldwide for his magnetic personality, humility and of course his incomparable onscreen presence. However, a hitherto unknown romantic side of the Thalaivar has been revealed by one of his costars.

Devan who has acted as a villain in the cult classic 'Baasha' has stated in an interview to Manorama Online that during the shooting in Mumbai, Rajini invited him, Janagaraj and Vijayakumar for dinner. The four had a friendly talk which turned towards romance and it was then that Rajini related the story of his first-ever lover whom he misses till date. According to Devan, Rajini said to him that when he was a conductor in Bengaluru, a medical college student named Nirmala boarded the bus from the wrong side and he scolded her for that and she too retaliated angrily. However, over the course of time, they had become friends and love blossomed.

Rajini had then invited Nirmala to watch a stage play in which he acted and after the show, the girl was so taken in by his acting skills she urged him to go to Chennai (which was then the hub of South Indian cinema) and try his luck. Rajini had then told her that he needed to be trained at the Adyar Film Institute but did not have the money for it. Nirmala encouraged Rajini by giving him 500 rupees and asked him to go to Chennai and only then he had made his journey here.

Rajini after becoming successful as an actor went back to Bengaluru in search of Nirmala but never could find her as she had vacated the house she was staying when they met. The biggest star of Indian cinema had then cried inconsolably and shared with his friends that till this date whichever place he travels his heart would search for his lost lover. That's a truly touching episode in the life of the 'Darbar' star as shared by Devan.