Contents
Rajinikanth
Becoming a defining star of Tamil cinema through films such as Baashha and Enthiran.
Mullum Malarum · Thalapathi
- Born
- 12 December 1950
- Birthplace
- Bengaluru, India
More people
Rajinikanth
An Indian actor whose career developed from supporting and antagonistic roles into distinctive leading performances in Tamil-language cinema.
Early life
Before films
Worked as a bus conductor in Bengaluru before training for a screen career.
Film school
Studied at the Madras Film Institute, where his route into Tamil cinema began.
Career
- 1975
Screen debut
Appeared in K. Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal.
- Late 1970s–1980s
Leading actor
Moved from antagonistic parts into leading roles and major commercial films.
- 1990s
Established screen persona
Films including Thalapathi and Baashha broadened his range and following.
- 2000s–2020s
Later films
Continued in large-scale productions including Sivaji, Enthiran and Jailer.
Selected work
Mullum Malarum
A character drama about a proud winch operator.
Thalapathi
A crime drama directed by Mani Ratnam.
Baashha
An action drama built around a concealed past.
Enthiran
Played a scientist and his robot creation.
Beyond work
Birth name
Born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad; Rajinikanth became his screen name.
National recognition
Received the Padma Vibhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Dani Charles Silverscreen Media Inc. (https://silverscreen.in). CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
