Human side of super star Rajinikanth

These pictures you get to see the human side of the great Indian bus conductor turned super star Rajnikath is from the personnel collection of his close friend and co-worker Raj Bahadur who had worked as a bus driver.

Bahadur now lives a one room pad where the superstar frequents in disguise to meet him and stays with him during his Bangalore sojourns in the Chamrajpet area. Bahadur adds that his superstar is still the same old friend he was during their tenure as driver and conductor in the BTS (Bangalore Transport Service) now (BMTC), and their friendship as deepened even as Rajni kept growing from actor to super star of the south Indian cinemas.

Raj Bahadur says that his simplicity is evident when he come to see me we drink the same old rum, ask for egg laced delicacies from by sister who lives one floor below mine and more so when it is bed time he sleeps on the floor without any complaints. Bahadur also adds that how during their camaraderie days in the then (Bangalore Transport Service (BTS) now Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC), Rajni used to practice during every short break he gets with his stylish stunts of throwing his cigarettes in air and trapping it with his mouth.

Bahadur goes on to say how this super star comes unnoticed to his home and adds that he comes in various film characters from beggar to a plumber into his home and leaves after staying with him for a day or two depending on his mood. He shared some of the things which his friend had shared with him during many of his stays and meetings with him after becoming an action star of the Indian cinema. One such incident Bahadur says was that Rajni was on a shoot in Rajasthan and the role demanded that he dresses up as a beggar, in between his shoot, Rajni decided to visit a temple close by since he is a strong believer in gods. On his way to the top of the mountain temple a lady dropped a rupee 10 into his palms thinking he was a beggar.

After paying his respects inside the temple Rajni on his way out when he was getting back into his SUV car, the same lady who gave him 10 rupees ran towards him and apologised for her part and asked for her note back with his autograph. Rajni refused and said I am sorry because this note is mine now and I am going to keep it for life and you need not be apologetic, since you have appreciated me, and left for his shoot after giving his autograph to her in another book. This Bahadur says his friend Rajni still cherishes as one of his best moments in life as an actor and still carries the rupees 10 in his purse as a remainder that all humans are equal.
For a man who started his job as a bus conductor with a monthly salary of rupees 30 , more than 25 years ago, to the present man who now gets paid rupees 30 crore per film and yet remain unmoved by all the money is a great feeling and more so since he is great friend, till death parts us, adds Bahadur with tears in his eyes, which he was unable to stop.



G R Adinarayanappa one of the fellow daily wage bus conductor who had got the appointment letter along with Tamil film superstar Rajnikanth in 1970.

Rags to riches, thanks to Rajni

This story of a simple man who has grown idolizing his reel hero’s actions in various blockbuster films was very moving when I got to know of it. So I wanted to meet this man who has grown in financial status as well as social echelon. Though he kept growing he had not forgotten his past and his old friends, which he continues to hold even today.

Taking a cue from his boss’s role in the film Annamalai (1992) V Harsha, President of Rajni Fans club at the Airport Road in the city, has transformed his personal life to align with that of Sivaji (2007).
For Harsha, Rajni flicks are not just any movies. They have taught him many lessons and inspired his tremendously.
Before attaining his current status, Harsha walked the streets of the city as adoor-to-door beedi and cigarette salesman. But the movie Annamali changed his fate forever. Success came to him gradually as he followed the principals of his on-screen ‘guru’.
Says Harsha, “The demolishing of various structures, the mannerisms, his attitude towards the depressed class and willingness to serve the needy people have moved me. Since then, I have been following his reel life values in my real life too. Today, all of my friends are like Rajni’s friends. All my cars have the same numbers as that of Rajni’s cars. I have even named my daughter Aishwarya, which is also the name of Rajni’s daughter.”
Each of Rajni’s movies has pushed him up the ladder of success. “When Basha was released in January 1995, I bought a small two-wheeler. Later I bought myself an even better two-wheeler after the release of Muthu in December 1995.

After the release of Arunachalam in 1997, I bought my first car. Later, during the release of Padeyappa in 1999, I bought another car. Today, I own a fleet of six cars. Couple of years ago when Chandramukhi was released, I got a Scorpio and now with Sivaji I am buying a Skoda” exalts Harsha.
The regular release of his boss’ films has provided him with enough time to implement the values of his icon as depicted on screen. “Following those methods and principals I have earned well and reached my present position. Now this is the right time to pay the master who changed my life.”
So far Harsha has spent more than Rs 50 Lakh for publicizing Rajni’s films in the city. Harsha has spent around Rs 4 to 5 lakh on every film. For Sivaji alone, Harsha has spent more than Rs 7 lakh. Sivaji’s release as he claims is like his daughter’s wedding. His club plans to arrange free tickets for women and children. Besides, he has also promised to give away free multiplex tickets to auto drivers, plumbers and other daily wage workers. All theaters which screen Sivaji in the city will get free buntings and flags from Harsha’s club.

Sivaji storms in - and wow!

This story written along with the help of Niranjan for Bangalore Mirror, since I had a lot of other work to do that day. So I passed on all the data I had collected to him and he wrote the story for a joint credit.

Milk, cocnuts, a 120 ft poster … Rajni fans pull out all stops to welcome the boss

Reacting to Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’s comments over the release of Rajnikant starrer Sivaji published in Bangalore Mirror on Wednesday, Rajni fans in the city, nick-named Tamil Tigers, grunted and asked the vedike not to combine the issue with the much-debated Cauvery issue.
Expressing their ignorance about the guidelines issued by the Vedike for the release and publicity of the much-awaited Kollywood blockbuster, fans and the well- wishers of Rajni reiterated that they respect the state’s cause and will abide by the government’s stand.
Guna, President of the Murphy Town Rajnikant Fans Association said, “We too are Kannadigas and respect the state’s cause. Sivaji is purely an entertainment issue and it does not have any relation to Cauvery to the language issue.”
Despite the furore and dbate over the issue, Guna and his friends have put up a 120 feet banner near Murphy Town fish market pug marked with stills from the film.

Explaining the efforts invested in making such a big poster Guna said, “I have spent Rs 30,000 from my own pocket. It is our way of expressing our love for the star. Rajnikant is an international figure and efforts to ostracise him just for Tamil Nadu’s cause is unacceptable.”
V Harsha, President of Rajni Fans Club at Airport road said, “First we are all Indians, and then we are all Kannadigas and lastly, we are all Rajni fans. Even on the posters we have put names first in Kannada, then in English and only near the theatres are they in Tamil. Though we don’t know about the guidelines issued by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, our friends have briefed us and we are ready to follow them.”
Solar Ramesh and Rajan from Ulsoor’s Rajnikant Fan Club organized a puja on Wednesday ahead of the film’s release. More than 100 coconuts were broken by Guna and his friends in honour of the actor in Murphy town and many packets of milk were poured on the giant –sized banner.
Inspired by the boss mannerisms and make-up is Sivaji, fans have also arranged a free haircut and shave drive on Friday. The association will also distribute more than 250kg of biriyani to the poor. Besides, the Rajnikant Fans Association at the Airport road has promised to arrange free tickets on the spot for the fans in multiplexes across the city.

THE HERO’S MANY ZEROES
With over Rs 100 crore being spent on the production Sivaji is easily one of the biggest movies produced in South Asia. It’s not just the budget that is mind-boggling. A whopping 1,000 prints have been ordered for distribution across India. More than 2,900 theaters have already been booked. Sivaji will see more than 12,000 shows everyday. Across the world, the film will be released in 23 countries simultaneously. It is expected to earn over Rs 500 crore in first 50 days. The producers have paid the actor Rs 40 crore. Rs 10 crore to director Shankar and Music Director A R Rahman. The fee is much more that what Jackie Chan gets, making Rajni the indisputable superstar of South Asia. The film is expected to run for three to four years! However, in Karnataka, Sivaji will play in 10 theaters only.

A Low key Rajni B'day

The Padayappa Star has turned 58, and his fans are celebrating

With his recent release ‘Sivaji’ running successfully all over the country, the 58th birthday was a memorable one for the superstar Rajnikant on Wednesday. Fans across the city cut cakes and distributed sweets.



Fans in Murphy Town celebrated the birthday by cutting a 58 kg cake and distributing around 1,000 pieces of cakes to the poor and fans. Guna, an ardent fan of Rajni, said, “I have spent around Rs 18,000 for the celebration. Rajini’s film releasing day and his birthday has been a great day for celebration for us. Last year, we distributed around 1,000 plates of chicken briyani to the poor.
Rajan, another die hard fan, said, “I was waiting for this occasion ever since Sivaji’s release to celebrate the success of both the film and my ‘boss’.
We pray to the god to give him healthy life and keep giving scintillating films all through the year and entertaining his fans.”
Banners on the road side in Sivaji Nagar read, ‘Long live our Style Emperor’ an in many other areas, Rajni’s huge cutouts were displayed, carrying the flags of Karnataka and India. Besides, fans on Kamraj Road, Ulsoor, Cox Town, Frazer Town and Benson Town put up huge banners with posters from some of his super hit movies. Solar Ramesh, president of Rajni Fans Club in Ulsoor said, “this time we have put up only the banner and kept the celebration low profile.” Meantime, rumours of Rajnikant visiting the city kept media persons on their toes.

Here they only see the simple side of Rajni

This Story was a bit too late and yet anyway Bangalore Mirror Editor K R Sreenivas asked me give the quotes of the people whom the superstar knew and was published on 18 June 2007 soon after the release of his yet another blockbuster 'Sivaji' - the Boss.
As recently as 20 days ago, Rajnikanth came to Hanumanthnagar in Bangalore, the place where he spend his childhood and youth, to visit his elder brother Sathyanaryan Rao. Selvan Shiv Kumar Spoke to the neighbors on Rajnikanth the man.

The home of Rajnikanth's elder brother Sathyanaryan Rao at 408, 2nd Cross, Hanumanthnagar. It was a small one-room place which has now been expanded to three floors, housing five families. Inset: The nameplate which is in Kannada.


Sundar (a Neighbour who has seen Rajni from his childhood): "He used to play gilli-danda with his friends on these streets. He was a hyperactive boy, always running around asking his friends to join him for a game." Right: Venkatraman (a friend of Rajni's elder brother Sathyanaryan Rao): "Rajni is very religious and down-to earth. He loves to talk on any subject. He came here 20 days ago.



Monish SM and Mayur (grandchildren of Sathyanarayan Rao): "Whenever our grand uncle visits us, he comes after 10 pm and leaves in an hour. He told us to study hard and do well. No,he dosen't play with us. He is too old for that."