Early Life and Background

Rajinikanth, born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad on December 12, 1950, hails from a Marathi Hindu family in Bangalore, Mysore State (present-day Karnataka).

• His mother was a homemaker, and his father, Ramoji Rao Gaekwad, served as a police constable.
• His family later moved to Hanumantha Nagar in Bangalore, where he lost his mother at the age of nine.
• Rajinikanth received his primary education at Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School, where he excelled in sports like cricket, football, and basketball.
• His brother enrolled him at the Ramakrishna Math, a Hindu monastery, where he learned about Vedas, tradition, and history.
• He started acting in plays at the math and received praise from Kannada poet D. R. Bendre for his performance.
• After completing his pre-university course at Acharya Pathasala Public School, he worked various jobs before becoming a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service.

The Rise of a Superstar

Rajinikanth's acting journey began with a minor role in K. Balachander's 1975 Tamil film "Apoorva Raagangal," where he played the ex-husband of the lead actress, Srividya.

• This film, exploring relationships between people with age gaps, was controversial but critically acclaimed, winning three National Film Awards.
• Rajinikanth went on to portray antagonist characters in various Tamil films, gaining recognition for his unique style.
• His breakthrough role came in 1977 with S. P. Muthuraman's "Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri," where he played a scorned lover.
• His performance in "Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri" and subsequent films like "Mullum Malarum" and "Aval Appadithan" earned him critical acclaim and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actor.
• By the end of the decade, Rajinikanth had established himself as a leading actor in the South Indian film industry, starring in films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

The Action Hero

Rajinikanth achieved massive commercial success with "Billa" (1980), a remake of the Bollywood film "Don." His portrayal of dual roles solidified his image as an action hero.

• He continued to star in various Tamil and Hindi films, including "Moondru Mugam" (1982), "Andhaa Kaanoon" (1983), and "Nallavanukku Nallavan" (1984).
• "Nallavanukku Nallavan" earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor.
• In the latter half of the 1980s, he starred in several successful films like "Geraftaar" (1985), "Padikkadavan" (1985), "Mr. Bharath" (1986), "Velaikkaran" (1987), "Manithan" (1987), "Dharmathin Thalaivan" (1988), and "ChaalBaaz" (1989).
• He made his only American film appearance in "Bloodstone" (1988), playing an Indian taxi driver.
• Rajinikanth also starred in "Raja Chinna Roja" (1989), the first Indian film to feature live action and animation.

Continued Dominance and Blockbusters

Rajinikanth began the 1990s with the blockbuster "Panakkaran" (1990), a remake of Amitabh Bachchan's "Laawaris" (1981). He then starred in films that cemented his status as a true superstar.

• "Thalapathi" (1991), a Mani Ratnam film, earned him significant critical acclaim for his performance, inspired by the Hindu epic "Mahabharata."
• His collaborations with Suresh Krissna, like "Annaamalai" (1992) and "Baashha" (1995), were major commercial successes, with "Baashha" becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film for several years.
• His other success includes "Mannan" (1992), "Uzhaippali" (1993), "Muthu" (1995), and "Padayappa" (1999), with "Padayappa" surpassing "Baashha" as his and Tamil cinema's highest-grossing movie.
• "Muthu" became the first Tamil film to be dubbed into Japanese, gaining Rajinikanth a massive fanbase in Japan.
• He starred in "Chandramukhi" (2005), a remake of the Malayalam film "Manichitrathazhu," which also became a record-breaking Tamil film.
• In 2007, he starred in "Sivaji," becoming the first Tamil film to enter the 100 Crore Club.

Science Fiction and Technology

Rajinikanth's foray into science fiction films saw him playing dual roles in "Enthiran" (2010), featuring a scientist and an android-humanoid robot.

• "Enthiran" became India's most expensive production at the time of its release and the second highest-grossing film in India.
• He reprised his role as Chitti in "2.0" (2018), which surpassed "Enthiran" as India's most expensive production and achieved record-breaking box office numbers.

Political Ambitions

Rajinikanth has often been speculated to enter politics. He announced his entry into politics in 2017, intending to contest in all 234 constituencies of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.

• He dissolved his political organization, Rajini Makkal Mandram, in 2021, announcing he had no plans to enter politics in the future.

Philanthropic Endeavors

Rajinikanth's philanthropic activities have often gone unreported due to his desire for privacy.

• He actively campaigned for eye donation and contributed to a plan to interlink Indian rivers.
• He has provided free venue space and lodging for various causes, including the anti-corruption movement and flood relief efforts.
• His fan associations regularly organize blood donation and eye donation camps, as well as food distribution on his birthday.

Awards and Recognition

Rajinikanth has been honored with numerous awards for his contributions to Indian cinema. He received his first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor in 1984 for "Nallavanukku Nallavan."

• He has won seven Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Filmfare Award South.
• The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India's third and second-highest civilian honors, respectively.
• In 2019, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema, for his contributions to Indian cinema.
• He was named the Indian Entertainer of the Year by NDTV in 2007 and one among the "25 Greatest Global Living Legends" by NDTV in 2013.