I was waving, but no one saw me. My ego was crushed: Rajinikanth

When Tamil superstar Rajinikanth visited The Art of Living Foundation International Centre in Bengaluru over the weekend, he recalled an incident that took place
during his first visit to the ashram. He shared that he had expected the usual — crowds, cameras and chaos. Instead, he found something far more meaningful: invisibility. What he thought would be a brief two-day visit turned into a 15-day spiritual retreat, leaving him with a lasting lesson in humility.

Recalling the experience, the actor said he was immediately struck by the serenity of the ashram. “There was greenery everywhere, a lake, smiling people, an elephant, horses and hundreds of cows. One of the horses was even named Rajini,” he said, leaving the audience in splits.



But the real ‘superstar moment’ came during a walk around the premises. Accustomed to fan frenzy and constant attention — especially after noticing visitors from Tamil Nadu — Rajinikanth expected people to approach him for photos and autographs. Instead, he was met with complete indifference. “Not a single person looked at me,” he laughed. “Forget photos or autographs; nobody even noticed me. I was waving, but no one saw me,” he said.


For a man used to stopping traffic wherever he goes, the experience turned into a profound reality check. “I have met politicians and industrialists, but this experience crushed my ego,” he confessed, adding that while cinematic stardom is temporary, ‘spiritual stardom’ is eternal and continues to grow even after death.

He concluded by invoking the wisdom of 16th-century saint-poet Purandara Dasa, reminding the audience about the rarity and value of life. He translated, “Human birth is auspicious — do not waste it. To gain this life is rare; to have a healthy body and mind is rarer; but to truly seek to know yourself is the greatest challenge of all.”
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