Page 9 - Seniorstoday July 2024 Issue

the titles. I didn’t agree and he asked me if But there was no media or social media
I was scared. I told him that I am scared of back then. Youngsters today won’t
only two people. One is God because he is know what happened in the 70s. Senior
always supreme and is the biggest of them citizens. There was so much hate, so much
all and I fear good people because they are opposition and so much fire against me,
so good that one should not do anything but I managed to overcome it and become
bad to them or else one would face their a plant which has now been nurtured and
wrath, The curse of a good man can destroy protected by God and my Godlike fans,” he
anyone. My only issue was that Kamal smiles, giving the credit where it is due.
Haasan was really a big star back then
and even the great Sivaji Ganesan was
also working and hence I was hesitant.
How could I dare to be called a superstar?”
asks Rajini about Thanu who was the first
person to create a 35 feet cut out of Rajini
outside a movie theatre.

Rajini has been known for his stylish
ploys, like tossing up the cigarette, doing
things in slow motion among other
gimmicks. “But it was not the gimmicks
that gave me popularity. I did some really
sensitive films back then and that brought
the mothers into the theatres which is like
letting elephants loose in the sugarcane
fields and they stood like a fortress for me.
Films like Aarilirindhu Aruvahu Varai,
Rajini fans have long been obsessed with his cut-outs
Rajini has never forgotten his roots and
only moved from a self-driven fiat to a
Honda City and only sat in a BMW when
his ex-son-in-law Dhanush gifted him with
one. In fact, Rajini avoids vanity vans too
and uses the make-up room on the sets
eating food served to the other cast and
crew when he’s shooting out of Chennai.
When in Chennai, he eats food that comes
from his home.
Despite all that, he did get his share of
hate. “I did get that from some quarters.

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #61 | JULY 2024 9