Happy 75th Birthday Rajinikanth: Lesser known facts of the superstar

The unparalleled aura of the Superstar, famously captured in films like ‘Baasha’ and ‘Sivaji: The Boss’, is legendary. Today, December 12th, is his birthday! It's a fantastic day to pause and look beyond the mega-stardom. To celebrate his journey, Lets look these little-known facts about him.

His brilliance on screen did not go unnoticed by the nation. In 2000, he received a high civilian award. It was the prestigious Padma Bhushan. This honour, India's third highest, acknowledged his tremendous contributions. It truly celebrated his artistry and legacy in Indian cinema.

Interestingly, Rajinikanth's mother tongue is Marathi. He was born in Maharashtra. His father was a police officer. A posting changed their family's location. They moved and eventually settled in Bengaluru. That's how a Maharashtrian boy grew up to become the 'Thalaivar' of Tamil cinema.

Rajinikanth’s early career growth was astonishingly fast. He reportedly reached the milestone of 50 films very quickly. This achievement happened in just four years. His fifth film was ‘Tiger’, released in 1979. It shows his immense demand and commitment early on.

Before fame, he had a very regular job. Rajinikanth worked as a bus conductor in Bengaluru. He served on the Shivaji Nagar-Samrajpet route. He even remembered the route number: 134. This job helped him save money. It allowed him to chase his dream of joining a film college in Chennai.

He often took on roles originally played by legends. The veteran star acted in 11 remakes of major Bollywood films. Many were originals starring Amitabh Bachchan. He adapted these roles with his own distinct flair. All of these remakes turned out to be blockbuster superhits.

His charm quickly expanded beyond the South. Rajinikanth made his first Hindi film debut with ‘Andhaa Kanoon’ in 1983. The movie was a huge, roaring success. It ran in theatres for nearly 50 weeks. This film solidified his entry into the massive Bollywood market.