RAJINIKANTH

Rajinikanth born on 12 December 1950 as Shivaji Rao Gaikwad is an Indian film actor, media personality and cultural icon. He was born in a Maharashtrian family to mother Jijabhai and father Ramoji Rao Gaikwad in Bangalore. He was the youngest of the four siblings and has two brothers and a sister. After the death of his mother, he had a real tough time in his life. During that time, he often did jobs like coolie in his community. He attended the Government Model Primary School at Bangalore, where he had his elementary education in Kannada.

Between 1996 and 1973 he worked in many places in Chennai and Bangalore. Later he joined as a bus conductor in Bangalore Transport Service. He began to take part in various stage plays , out of which the most notable role performed by him was that of Duryodhana. In1973, his friend and co-worker Raj Bahadur motivated him to join the Madras Film Institute and also financially supported him for two years during his studies.

Rajinikanth married Latha Rangachari, an Iyengar on February 26, 1981, at the age of 31 in Andhra Pradesh. The couple is blessed is with two daughters Aishwariya Rajinikanth and Soundariya Rajinikanth. His wife, currently runs a school named The Ashram. His elder daughter, Aishwariya married actor Dhanush in the year 2008 and they have two sons. His younger daughter, Soundariya, works in the film industry as a director, producer and graphic designer. She married the industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar in the year 2010.

Rajinikanth made his debut as an actor in the National Film Award winning motion picture Apoorva Raagangal (1975), directed by K. Balachandr, whom he considers his mentor. Within a few years, he was claimed to be superstar of Tamil film industry. His mannerisms and stylized delivery of dialogue in films contribute to his mass popularity and appeal. Rajinikanth also appeared in the cinemas of other nations, including in that of the United States. After being paid Rs. 26 crore in Sivaji (2007), he became the highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan. Other than acting, Rajinikanth has also worked as a producer and screenwriter.

Making a career of over 35 years in the film world industry Rajinikanth has acted in more than 150 films and has worked in almost all major film industries in India. In the year 2000, he was given the Padma Bhushan Award for his remarkable contribution to the Indian cinema. Apart from his film career, he is also a philanthropist, spiritualist and serves as an influence in Dravidian politics.

Rajinikanth has received numerous awards for most of the films in which he has acted in the Tamil film industry. He received his first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor in 1984 for Nallavanaku Nallavan. Later he received Filmfare Award nominations for his performance in movies like Sivaji (2007), Enthiran (2010). Rajinikanth has also received Tamil Nadu State Film Awards in the best Actor category for his roles in movies like Muthu (1995), Padayappa (1999), Chandramukhi (2005) and Sivaji (2007).

Rajinikanth received the Kalaimamani Award in 1984 and M.G.R Award in 1989 from the Tamil Nadu Government. In the year 1995, South IndianFilm Artises Association presented him with the Kalaichelvam award. He was selected as the enterpreneur for the year 2007 by NDTV. The Maharashtra Government honored him with Raj Kapoor Award the same year. He received the Chevalier Sivaji Ganeshan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema at the 2010 ceremony of the Vijay Awards.

Rajinikanth was also named as one of the most influential person in South Asia by Asia week. He was also named by Forbes India as the most influential Indian of the year 2010.

Rajinikanth was awarded Entertainer of the Decade Award by NDTV in 2011 by home Minister, P. Chidambaram.