Down south he managed the status of a Mega-star for almost a decade. Rajni, as he is referred to by millions of fans, may be short on histrionic talent, but more than makes up for it through his idiosyncratic on-screen mannerisms and a carefully-nurtured defender-of-the-downtrodden image.

He was born on December 12, 1950 as Shivajirao Gaekwad in Banglore, the son of a police constable, he worked as a bus-conductor in the city before he joined the Madras Film Institute. He made his debut with a brief role in Puttanna Kanagal's Katha Sangama and came into scorching limelight with Balachander's Apoorva Ragangal. A fanatic film viewer since childhood, his unique acting style is characterised by a trademark gesture: flipping a cigarette in the air before he catches it in his mouth.

Although he has resisted the temptation to plunge headlong into the affairs of the state as some of his predecessors in the Tamil film industry had done, Rajnikanth has often added his voice to the political cacophony, setting off speculation that he may soon join one party or the other or even float a totally new group.

His style, appreciated by teenagers, evokes a childish delight in his film acting and is aptly mobilised in Mani Ratnam's Dalapati. His delirious fans, who hang on to every syllable he utters with something akin to a religious fervor, have formed clubs all over the state dedicated to the promotion of their favorite actor.
He live with his wife Latha and Daughters Aishwarya, Soundarya.

Address:
No.18, Ragaveera Avenue,
Poes Garden, Chennai-600 086
Phone No. 4990278 / 8274612