Rajinikanth

Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor born on 12 December 1950 who primarily works in Tamil cinema. Across a career spanning over five decades, he has starred in 170 films across Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla, and Malayalam. Regarded as one of the most popular and successful actors in Indian cinema, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019, and the IFFI Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.

Born into a Marathi family in Bangalore, Mysore State (now Karnataka), he was raised by a police constable father and a homemaker mother. He lost his mother at age nine. He attended Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School and studied at the Ramakrishna Math, where he developed an interest in acting through spiritual plays. He completed his pre-university education at Acharya Pathasala Public School. Before pursuing acting, he worked various jobs, including as a coolie and a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service. Supported by a coworker, he joined the Madras Film Institute, where director K. Balachander discovered him, provided his stage name, and advised him to learn Tamil.

Rajinikanth made his acting debut in Balachander's 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal. Initially cast in antagonistic and supporting roles, he transitioned to positive characters in films such as Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri, Aval Appadithan, and Mullum Malarum, earning a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for the latter. His major breakthrough as a solo hero arrived with the 1980 action thriller Billa, a remake of the Hindi movie Don. The film's massive success established his persona as an action star and established him as a top lead in Tamil cinema.

In 1982, he played a triple role in Moondru Mugam, earning another state award, and made his Hindi film debut in 1983 with Andhaa Kaanoon. He won a Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor for Nallavanukku Nallavan in 1984 and appeared in numerous Tamil remakes of Amitabh Bachchan films. His critical acclaim expanded with Mani Ratnam's Thalapathi in 1991. He subsequently starred in major box-office successes like Baashha, Muthu, and Padayappa, with Padayappa becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film at the time.

After a brief hiatus, he returned in the 2005 comedy horror hit Chandramukhi, followed by Sivaji in 2007, which became the first Tamil film to enter the 100 Crore Club. He played dual roles in the high-budget science fiction films Enthiran and 2.0. His later releases, including Jailer and Coolie, established him as the only Tamil cinema actor with three films crossing the ₹500 crore box-office mark. Known for his unique mannerisms and screen presence, he has received numerous accolades and widespread recognition as a prominent Asian figure.