On December 12, superstar Rajinikanth celebrates his birthday. Even though he may be getting older in real life, to his admirers, Rajini will always be the invincible Superstar. Who else, after all, is capable of putting a doubter in their place with a straightforward punchline? “En vazhi, thani vazhi! (My way is my own)” Most young people in the 1990s looked up to him and aspired to be as tough as Rajnikanth in the future.
Amir Khan about Rajni Sir
Many people might not be aware, but Shankar asked Aamir Khan about playing the protagonist in Robo 2.0. The reason the actor declined the job was not the screenplay; rather, he felt that no one else could portray Vaseegaran and Chitti. As he spoke with ETC Bollywood in 2017, “Rajini sir felt back then that he wasn’t healthy enough to shoot for the film and suggested that Shankar rope me in. But, when I closed my eyes I could only see Rajini sir in the role, he’s irreplaceable. I’ve read the script, the film will be a super hit. But I didn’t think anyone but him could do it. It was not a tough decision to turn it down because I am his fan.”
Amitabh Bachchan says Rajnikanth is like family
Amitabh at IFFI 2019 in Goa said he acted with Rajni in the 1991 movie Hum. Talking about their bond, he said, “I think of Rajinikanth ji as a member of my family. We stay in touch and often talk. Sometimes he asks me for advice and vice versa. Sometimes I tell him not to do something but he goes ahead and does it. But thank you Rajini for being with me. You’re an incredible source of inspiration. Such a humble being, he came from such humble beginnings. He inspires us every day.”
Hrithik Roshan: “I used to say whatever I wanted to him”
Rajinikanth and the then-child actor Hrithik shared the screen in the 1986 movie Bhagwaan Dada. In a 2017 interview with a news outlet, Hrithik stated, “I used to say whatever I want to him as if he was my friend while shooting for Bhagwaan Dada. He was very gracious back then because he forgave a lot of things I did or said. I remember vividly how whenever I would make a mistake and the director (my grandfather) would cut the shot, Rajini sir would apologise so I don’t feel bad. I remember that now with so much love in my heart because he kept my confidence.”
