Rajinikanth is one of the highest paid actors in India and enjoys a cult following throughout India.
Chennai:
It’s now or never, Rajinikanth said dramatically when he finally announced today, after years of suspense, that he would be joining politics. “I am willing to sacrifice my life for the Tamil people,” he declared passionately, sounding no different from the larger-than-life action heroes he has portrayed in his films.
The 69-year-old superstar will announce his party on New Years Eve and launch it in January, five months before the Tamil Nadu elections. “Wonderful and incredible things will happen!” He promised, without saying so explicitly, that he would contest the ballot box.
Rajinikanth, one of India’s highest paid actors, said that with “great support from the people” his party will bring “honest, transparent, corruption-free, non-caste, secular and spiritual policies” to the state.
With this, the former bus driver goes from a cameo in politics to a leading role.
In October, Rajinikanth seemed reluctant to intervene after a leaked letter appeared to indicate that doctors had advised him to stay away from politics, given his health after a kidney transplant, which made him vulnerable to Covid.
The actor enjoys a cult following throughout India, especially in the south, where he is popular as the “Thalaivar“(Leader).
His films are a huge festival in Tamil Nadu, with fans praying for him, many cutting their hair like his latest character and some even pouring milk on his giant billboards.
Rajnikanth was a bus driver in Bengaluru before moving into acting in 1973, then building a vast film repertoire in Mumbai and the south. Few stars can match the devotion fans lavish on him.
But can it be translated into votes?
Rajinikanth demonstrated his political impact in 1996 when the defeat of the ruling AIADMK in the Tamil Nadu polls was attributed to a statement from him. “” If J Jayalalithaa (then chief minister and head of AIADMK) is rejected, not even God can save Tamil Nadu, “he had said.
Rajinikanth said in 2017 that he wanted to enter politics to bring “change in Tamil Nadu.” His fans celebrated, but had to wait for the actor to speak on various issues without actively joining politics.
He launched his own movement, Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), but was perceived to be hesitant about betting on politics and elections.
Rajinikanth has long contested talks about his political leanings.
In 1995, when he met with then-Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, there was talk of joining Congress.
In 2004, just before the national elections, the actor pledged his support for the AIADMK-BJP alliance, but failed in Tamil Nadu.
Last year he announced that he would not run in national elections and that his team would not support any party.
The Rajinikanth movement has well-known precedents in the south. Actor-turned-politician NT Rama Rao founded his political party in 1982 and became the Prime Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1983. The difference is that Rao, popularly known as “NTR”, was only 60 years old. Rajinikanth is 70 years old and not in the best of times. health, say those close to him, citing doctors.
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