before he became a star in 90′s and reached superstardom soon after. As he gets set for his next, Kochadaiyaan, here’s a look at his cinematic journey.

Early career
Rajinikanth has travelled a long way in his career and his journey started as a bus conductor for Bangalore Transport Service.

After doing theatre at a small level Rajinikanth was spotted by K Balachander.

Rajinikanth started his film career with a small role in Tamil movie Apoorva Raagangal, directed by K Balachander. He played the role of an abusive husband.

He continued signing some more negative roles in subsequent year. In Avargal, he played a sadistic husband, a womaniser in Moondru Mudichu and a lust-filled village rowdy in P. Bharathiraja’s 16 Vayadhinile.

He started his Telugu innings with Chilakamma Cheppindi.

Though Rajinikanth was a known face in 1970s, but success came only with the Tamil remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s Don  – Billa. The actor played double role in the film.

On the advice of his mentor K Balachander, Rajinikanth worked in his first-ever out-and-out comedy Thillu Mullu directed by K Balachander, to break out of his commercial hero mould. Moondru Mugam sees Rajinikanth playing three roles for the first time. He played a triple role in John Jani Janardhan too.

Rajini’s biggest hits

Chandramukhi: P. Vasu’s Chandramukhi, a horror-comedy film featuring an ensemble cast. The film eventually broke the record of being the longest running Tamil film as of 2007. It was also dubbed in Turkish and German as Der Geisterjäger and released in those respective nations.

Sivaji: The Boss: Sivaji and released in the summer of 2007, following two years of filming and production. It became the first Tamil film to be charted as one of the top-ten best films of United Kingdom and South Africa box-offices upon release. Rajinikanth received a salary of INR26 crores, approximately US $5.3 million at the time, for his role in the film, which made him become the second highest paid actor in all of Asia.

Endhiran: The film was released worldwide in 2010 as the most expensive Indian film ever made, ultimately becoming the highest-grossing film in India of its time.Rajinikanth was paid a remuneration of INR45 crores for the film.

Bollywood innings
Rajinikanth did his first Bollywood film with Amitabh Bachchan. It was Andha Kanoon. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing films of that time. He also worked with Big B in hum.

In the second half of the 1980s, Rajinikanth acted in many superhit Tamil films like Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Padikkathavan (1985), Mr Bharath (1986), Velaikaran (1987), Guru Sishyan (1988) and Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988).

Rajini fever across globe

South India: When Endhiran was released, theatres in the south screened Endhiran’s first show as early as 4 am. Thousands of Rajinikanth fans gathered outside cinemas in Chennai at 4 am to catch the first show. Buzz was that enthusiastic fans didn’t hesitate to shell out a whopping 1000 bucks a ticket to watch their favorite superstar in action.

Malaysia: Rajnikanth’s 100th Tamil film Sivaji created history in Malaysia. Despite glitches and violence that marred its premiere on, its opening day collections broke all previous records.

Japan: Noriko Inagaki, he first member of the official Rajnikanth Fan Club in Tokyo writes, “At the time I saw Muthu, in October 1998, I was a victim of corporate downsizing. I was so blue that I’d isolated myself from society for over half a year. Then I heard about the film and went to watch it — and I felt better than I’d felt in a long time. I went to the theatre again. Not long after, I landed another job.”

“Every time I have watched a Rajnikanth film, I have got a positive vibe from it. In that sense, he’s a guru to me. I visited Chennai when Baba released, Singapore when Chandramukhi came out, Kuala Lumpur for Sivaji, and Johor Bhar for Kuselan. And as luck would have it, I got several opportunities to meet my real guru,” he added.

“Though his recent films haven’t shown here, there are thousands fans who watch his later releases on DVDs brought abroad. But all of us are put off by the lack of Japanese subtitles.  If this state persists, Rajnikanth will remain the ‘star of yesteryears’ he seems to have become in Japan. I feel heartbroken. And every time I read about the “world release” of a new Rajni film, I feel sad that Japan is not in that “world”, he said.

Sri Lanka: The Rajnikanth mania gripped Sri Lanka too. His blockbuster Sivaji:The boss was on show 41 times a day in seven theatres across the island, with all shows running to full houses.

Celebs go gaga over Rajinikanth
Katrina on missing the chance to work with Rajini: “Of course, it’s not the end of the road. Rajinikanth sir and I will work together in the near future on something else, for sure. ais crossed!” beams the busy actor, talking from Cuba. She will start shooting for Dhoom 3 in the second half of the year with Aamir Khan, followed by the Dostana sequel with John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan closer to the end of 2012.”

Aishwarya on Rajinikanth: “Endhiran is a total Rajni-Shankar styled entertainer. There’s no logic as to why I agreed to do it beyond the urge to work with Rajnikanth. Shankar and Rajni sir have approached me for so many films, it’s embarrassing. Ever since we did Jeans together Shankar has approached me for all his films except Boys. Rajni sir, being the senior that he is, has shown no egoistic traits in approaching me for his last four-five films. And my refusal to do his films was never misconstrued by him. I admire him for that. It speaks volumes for his seniority and his calibre as a human being to never take offence to my no.”

Jackie Shroff on Rajini: “I like his simplicity and I admire his stardom, in fact I feel he’s bigger than anyone in Hollywood! Such is his star power. I am going to act with him after Uttar Dakshin, it feels like meeting a brother after long. Being directed by Soundarya is like being directed by a brother’s daughter, it’s like family and it’s going to be fantastic!”

However, it looks like Aditya Chopra is far from satisfied. Insiders say that he has already made plans to make ‘Dhoom 4’ and ‘Dhoom 5’ even before ‘Dhoom 3’ is complete. And he wants the biggest stars in Bollywood – Salman and Shah Rukh to star in them respectively.

While Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will reprise their roles of Inspector Jay Dixit and Ali, the villains will be the main attraction. And after John, Hrithik and Aamir, it can’t get any bigger than Salman and SRK. Apparently, the franchise will wrap up with the fifth part. Vijay Krishna Acharya (who directed ‘Tashan’ will be working on the script for both the parts).

In fact, Salman who is working with Yash Raj for the first time with ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ is keen to work in stylised action films and ‘Dhoom’ fits the bill perfectly.

Of course Yash Raj films rubbished the reports but knowing their secretive ways we might just be proved right after a year or so when they announce the next film with Sallu!

On a double high with the back to back success of ‘Agneepath’ and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’, Karan Johar is on a roll so as his ambitious next ‘Student Of The Year’ (SOTY). This time shooting for a song which is being choreographed by Farah Khan. Karan Johar made the news public by tweeting on the popular micro blogging site, “Am off for another outdoor of SOTY….am filming my favourite song in the album with Farah!!! On flight with the newbies…will connect soon!”

Though the location of the shoot has not been disclosed, the SOTY crew is on a continuous shooting schedule. And as the director promises, team SOTY has planned quite a few surprises for the fans.

Through this movie, Karan will be launching a few fresh faces in the industry. The movie stars newbies Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt as the main cast. To add to the list of the new stars, Karan has hit the fans again with another surprise! His latest tweet reads “Ok…that’s Kayoze Irani!!! @kayoze…Boman Irani’s super talented son who we are introducing in SOTY”. Kayoze started off his career with Dharma productions as an Assistant Director in the movie ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’.

‘Student Of The Year’ is a highly anticipated movie in the Dharma camp. Karan dons the director’s cap after a long time for this movie. This movie will definitely be close to Karan’s heart. Well, we are all waiting to see how Karan shapes this movie after his ‘My Name Is Khan’ went ahead to become a blockbuster in India and overseas.

Mumbai: The eternal lover boy of Bollywood Rishi Kapoor seems to have developed a knack to excite and thrill. After a stirring performance as Rauf Lala in ‘Agneepath’, Rishi is said to soon come up with his autobiography – something, which experts feel will ruffle quite a few feathers in the industry.

The veteran actor promised to be extremely candid about the facts of his life. Probed more about the tell-all, the actor relentlessly said, “Arrey yaar, mujhe likhna to aata nahin (I don`t know how to write). I more or less know who I want to help me write my story. It`s got to be someone who knows me and my work really well.”

Asked about the decision behind writing his life story, he said, “It`s something I`ve been asked to do for some years now. But never got around to doing. Now that I am nearly 60, I think it`s about time.”

Interestingly, Rishi wants the writer of his autobiography to stay with him for some time. He said, “I want the writer to tail me for at least three months, so he`d get to know exactly how I live, how I interact with friends and family. I`m very clear that I won`t lie while telling my story.”

Buzz also has it that three leading publishing houses are vying to clinch the rights of Rishi’s book.

Some time ago, Shah Rukh Khan made way for the budding superstar as the hero of the Sajid Nadiadwala- produced screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s novel, 2 States. While date problems have been officially cited as the reason for Aamir opting out of Hirani’s new project, reports doing the rounds in the industry seem to suggest otherwise.

“Aamir is required to shoot for Yash Raj Films’ Dhoom 3 around the same dates when Hirani will shoot his film. Since he has already signed Dhoom 3 and is preparing for the role, which he is keen to take on, there is no way Aamir will backtrack from the venture,” a source in the YRF camp said.

Trade sources, however, indicate Aamir and the makers of Hirani’s film could not agree on profit sharing details. “Aamir is known to take a share of profit from every film he does ever since 3 Idiots . Things did not fall in place when he demanded an amount that the producers of Hirani’s new film thought was too big to afford,” a trade source said.

Aamir’s decision to walk out of Hirani’s film surprised all because there were reports only a few days ago that he was enthusiastically discussing nitty- gritties of the project. It was Aamir’s idea, the reports had said, to change the name of the film from PK, as Hirani had originally planned, to Talli because the actor felt PK would fail to connect with the audience.

Hirani’s new film has generated ample buzz considering his last venture, 3 Idiots, still remains Bollywood’s highest-grosser ever. When reports suggested that the filmmaker’s new film would once again star Aamir, the industry was naturally excited.

Ranbir’s stakes are at an all time high ever since his new film, Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar , became a huge hit last year. Incidentally, Ali has taken over as the director of 2 States from Vishal Bhardwaj after Ranbir replaced SRK. Reports coming in state that Raju Hirani plans to cast Anushka Sharma as Ranbir’s heroine in his new film.

Rumours that Hirani and Ranbir could come together for a film first cropped up when the normally reticent director was spotted at the star’s birthday party last September. “Raju has been interested in working with Ranbir for a long time. In fact, he had offered Ranbir a script even before the actor’s debut film Saawariya released in 2007. Things weren’t just falling in place. Finally, Talli will see the two talented people working together,” a source said.

Talli is reportedly a satire where the lead character plays an alcoholic. The film promises to bring back Hirani’s trademark humour we saw in Munnabhai flicks and 3 Idiots , and is being touted as one of the biggest releases of 2013.

Chikni Chameli is scheduled to be in London for approximately two months for the filming of her next action thriller ‘Dhoom 3.’

Of course she’s overwhelmed to be back in London and although this means doing her fair share of household chores, at least she’ll be around her loved ones.

Back to ‘Dhoom 3’ we’ve heard that Katrina has been going through some serious underwater training, but still no news on the bikini front?

Sounds like this ‘Dhoom’ girl has Yash Raj Films wrapped around her little finger. First a chance to star opposite superstar Aamir Khan and now a two month schedule in her hometown. Could she ask for anymore? We hope not!

By Neha Bhatt

Is Salman the host with the most?

Now that Salman Khan is back in town, channels have begun approaching him to host their shows. At least three entertainment channels are hoping that he takes time out for them.

Considering that he was barely present for the last reality show he hosted along with Sanjay Dutt and was mired in controversy over participant Mahek Chahal, wonder if the star will again host another season of it. Meanwhile as Sallu takes his time to say yes for yet another television outing in his busy schedule, channels are waiting.

Ashmit Patel poses in the buff for health magazine

If his rumoured girlfriend Veena Malik could create a buzz by posing nude for a men’s mag, why should Ashmit Patel be left behind? He has posed in the buff for Men’s Health which helps guys pick the right underwear!

Imran Khan’s mother seeks divine help for his success

Apparently there is a reason behind Imran Khan’s films making the cut back-to-back. His mother Nuzhat and rest of the family regularly visit Fatehpur Sikhri dargah and seek blessings before anything important. So his mother visited the place just days before the release of his latest film too.

Kittu Gidwani can’t find a dress that fits her!

It might take two to tango but it takes one to shop for tango. Kittu Gidwani was spotted recently at a fashion store in Fountain. The actress who is also a tango dancer was heard squealing about a dress which she told a companion was just perfect for tango. “But they do not have it in my size,” she said a moment later. By the way Kittu herself was dressed in a black dress during her visit to the store.

The lady with her advised her to check if they have a similar design at the other branches. Last seen, Kittu was doing a dance of disappointment through the store as she left to maybe come back another day for that elusive perfect-for-tango dress.

Seated in the out-house of his lavish bungalow in Pali Hill, Bandra, Rishi Kapoor was dressed in a midnight blue lungi-kurta. In a free-wheeling chat, over a cup of green tea, he was curt, forthright and extremely witty, all at the same time.

Agneepath is now in the (Rs) 100-crore club. At this stage of your career does something like that still affect you?

I was just a character actor in the film. The two main heroes of the film were Hrithik (Roshan) and Sanjay (Dutt). I am happy to have contributed in my small way.

You are being incredibly modest…

I think I am being honest. I stopped being a hero a long time ago. I am just happy that I’ve played my first evil character successfully.

How would you describe Rauf Lala?

Rauf Lala is a really dark character. He is a butcher, which is fine, but he is also a pimp. He buys and sells young girls. He is just a mean, mean person. I think what people liked was that I didn’t make Rauf larger than life, like a typical Hindi film villain. He didn’t have any typical mannerisms or dialogues that the front-benchers would like.

When both Karan Johar and Karan Malhotra were so keen to have you in Agneepath, why did you not want to do the film? Were you not confident of taking the risk?

I wasn’t confident I could carry off the role. My films over the years have been nowhere close to what I played in Agneepath. So, I also feared that the audience would not accept me in such a role. I am still very old-school. I believe that every film project should be profitable. I didn’t want to play an important part and fail at it because the film would have failed. So, I asked for a look test and auditioned for my own satisfaction. I am glad that after all these years in the business, the actor in me has survived and I took up the challenge that was Agneepath.

Sanjay Dutt had told t2 that he hated himself as Kancha Cheena when he saw the film. How did you react when you saw yourself on the big screen as Rauf Lala?

I still haven’t seen the film.

What?!

Yes, I haven’t. I am planning to watch it in a day or two.

I believe while you were dubbing, you made Rauf even more villainous?

Yes. I enhanced it with my dialogue delivery. Unfortunately, the censors weren’t too thrilled with it. So, what the audiences got to see of Rauf was actually a lot more passive than I had originally intended.

After 40 years in the industry, what keeps you going?

My passion and sincerity for the craft is as strong as it was. I love acting. I still get so excited about having the opportunities to tell stories.

HERO THEN, ACTOR NOW

Going back to your younger years, as the scion of the Kapoor legacy, was it a given that you’d be in films?

Everyone, even in my extended family, was in the movie business. The environment was such that everyone was living, eating and talking movies. So, I didn’t ever think of wanting to be in any other profession. Luckily, Bobby became the hit that it did and I was accepted as an actor.

You went on to have a fantastic filmography…

Ya, I don’t think anyone has the kind of filmography as me. I worked only with the best. I might have done some riff-raff films but very few. As a hero, I must have done 120 films and I worked with the best directors and actresses. I didn’t do films for the sake of doing films.

Do you look back at any of those roles with special satisfaction?

I know it’s a cliché but I really believe that actors are never satisfied. I am always trying to re-invent myself… to become better at my craft. I am happy with the kind of films that I have done but I can’t pick out a single role and say ‘I was good in this’. I don’t want to rest on my past laurels. I want to do better work in the future. I hope writers create meaty roles for character actors like me and others my age.

When you look at your younger self in films on television, what goes through your mind?

I normally just see the scene they are showing and change the channel. I am embarrassed. I have put on so much weight. I was, obviously, so much younger. But I am proud of the fact that I entertained for so long.

They say that there is a director hidden inside every actor. You did direct Aa Ab Laut Chalen. Do you ever feel like going behind the camera again?

No. I am primarily an actor. I did Aa Ab Laut… in the interim period when I made the switch from leading man to character actor. I am very passionate about acting. I am from a filmmakers’ family so I also enjoyed directing but it involves a lot more effort. Nothing has inspired me to take on the job again.

Compared to how you worked in the ’70s and ’80s, do you find yourself paying more attention to the characters you play?

Of course, and it’s very obvious in the characters I have played in recent times. I have also been putting in the effort to make the characters look different which was not something we did earlier. Romi Rolly (Luck By Chance) is completely different from the patriarch of Patiala House.

You are now working with filmmakers like Zoya Akhtar, Habib Faisal and Karan Malhotra, who are much younger than you. Has it been easy to adjust your vision to theirs?

The young filmmakers of today have a huge contribution in shaping my career today. Filmmaking is like football. There is a whole team that’s kicking the ball towards the goalpost. We have to be team players like in Agneepath. No one person can say ‘it’s my way or the highway’. It’s very important for me to understand the psyche of the director. I have to get along with the director. If I don’t see us being about to understand each other, I won’t do the film.

Has the fact that you don’t have the pressure to perform as a hero allowed you the freedom to experiment?

Absolutely! For 25 years, I ran around trees in the Kashmir valley, singing songs. I am done with that. Now is my time to experiment and discover my range as an actor. From Romi Rolly in Luck By Chance to Santosh Duggal in Do Dooni Chaar and now Rauf Lala, I am trying my hand at as many different characters and looks as possible. I am having a ball right now. It’s like I am at a party and there is a huge buffet and I can pick anything (laughs). I am enjoying myself as an actor.

Do you have a sense of the kind of characters you would want to experiment with in future?

The world is full of characters. I can’t pinpoint what I would want to play. I can only play what a writer imagines. Just because I have successfully played a villain once, it doesn’t mean that I will keep playing dark characters. Having said that, tomorrow someone might offer me a role which is even more evil than Rauf and I will get excited and scared and do the film.

What do you have coming up next?

There is Housefull 2 in which I have tried slapstick comedy for the first time. After that will be Student of the Year, which Karan Johar is directing, and Chashme Baddoor. I have my hands full.

RK TO RK TO RK

People have started saying how you are as busy as Ranbir these days and the son has to compete with the father in terms of performances now!

(Laughs out loud) The boy is not doing badly. He has done a limited number of films but they have been good films. He has dared to be different. I admire his courage. We are proud to be two good actors in the house!

What goes through your mind when people refer to you as ‘Ranbir’s father’?

I am happy that Agneepath has brought me back in prominence because people of this generation had forgotten about me (laughs). The films I had done recently have re-positioned me in the industry and in people’s minds. I think new generations have realised that I am Ranbir’s father but I am also an actor in my own right.

You had mentioned in a previous interview that you don’t think of yourself as a fantastic dad because you were so busy when Ranbir was growing up. Would you do things differently if you had a chance?

No. I don’t understand why people think that to be a fantastic dad, you have to be super-friendly with your kids. I can be loving, nurturing and caring but I can’t be on back-slapping terms with my son. I believe that there has to be a line between a father and son. My father (Raj Kapoor) was like that with me. But that doesn’t mean that Ranbir is uncomfortable around me. When we go out, he sits down with a drink with me. He probably doesn’t smoke in front of me out of respect. Of course, his mother (Neetu) is his buddy and he confides in her. I am sure Ranbir probably resents it (his father having been too busy) right now but once he has a child of his own, he’ll understand.

So, the relationship that you share with Ranbir mirrors what you shared with your father?

Well, I don’t want him to fear me. I guess that would be the only difference between the two relationships.

In numerous interviews, Ranbir has confessed that you are a tough critic of his work…

I am not the kind of father who will praise every single thing that his son does. I believe that he still has to be moved in the right direction. He is still cementing his place in the industry and he has to continue honing his craft. If I tell him that he is brilliant in each of his films, he’ll become complacent. But, when he does good work like in Rockstar or Raajneeti, I have told him so. I just want him to keep getting better. I encourage him to do good work.

Do you see yourself or Neetuji when Ranbir is on screen?

All I see in him is the passion for cinema and acting which is shared by everyone in this family. He loves his craft and that is all that is needed. He is always trying to better himself and that’s what my father and grandfather (Prithviraj Kapoor) did till their last days.

Ranbir has quite a reputation of being a ladies’ man…

Ranbir is wrongly linked-up. It’s someone’s very fertile imagination at work. His mother keeps telling me that there are rumours about him in the papers. Even if the link-ups are true, he is a young, successful bachelor. I don’t see anything wrong with it. I have never given him advice on how to deal with it.

I have to ask you about the other actor in your family — Neetuji. When will see both you of together again?

I don’t know. Nothing like Do Dooni Chaar has come our way since. We can’t do a movie together just for the sake of it. It has to be something that we can’t say no to. The same goes for Ranbir and me acting together. People have come to us with films that just didn’t excite us. It’s not necessary that we play father-son, we could play unrelated characters. Hopefully, something will come along.

However, even though she is happy to talk about her work in the film, one thing where she has decided to keep mum is her personal life. No wonder, Madhu says that she is yet to be swept off her feet by her prince charming. One finds that rather surprising though that she still doesn’t have that someone special in her life.

Says Madhu after a hearty laugh, “You know what, I am way too complicated as a person in real life to actually get romantically involved. As of now, I am not into any relationship. Yes, my Facebook status may say ‘In a relationship’ but that’s mainly in order to ward off any unsolicited attention coming my way. Let me get my act together in the acting world first; relationships can wait.”

Smart girl, one has to admit!