Rajinikanth – Thalaivar

Rajinikanth ( Thalaivar ) was born on 12 December 1950 in Bangalore (then under Mysore State), India. He grew up in a modest, middle-class Tamil family. From a young age, he was drawn to performance and drama.

He studied at Acharya Pathasala High School in Bangalore. Later, before acting, he worked as a bus conductor for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). During this period, his interest in films and storytelling kept growing. He then decided to pursue acting seriously and joined the prestigious acting course at Madras Film Institute, which marked the turning point of his life.

Social Media

Unlike many modern stars, Rajinikanth is known for keeping his personal life private and rarely uses social media. Most of his public announcements, interviews, and film updates come via official media releases or his film production/distribution house.

How Rajinikanth as Thalaivar Entered Films

Rajinikanth made his big-screen debut in 1975 with the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal. His fresh personality and raw acting stood out, even then.

As he acted in more films during the late 1970s and early 1980s, his unique style — a blend of humility, charisma, and powerful dialogue delivery — began to win hearts. Over time, he moved from being a promising newcomer to a full-fledged superstar. Fans started calling him “Thalaivar” (which means “Leader / Boss”), a title he still holds.